AZIZ ORUJOV
Journalist and founder of Channel 13, repeatedly arrested for his critical reporting on human rights.
About Aziz Orujov
Aziz Orujov was born on 3 January 1984 in the Barda district of Azerbaijan. From 2001 to 2005, he pursued a bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Journalism of Baku State University. After graduating, he worked for newspapers such as Sharg, Millet and Ayna. In 2008, he founded the internet television channel Kanal 13 along with his brother Anar Orujov, and has managed the Baku office of Kanal 13 ever since.
Kanal 13 has over one and a half million subscribers to its English-language YouTube channel and over half a million subscribers to its Azerbaijani-language version. The channel covers issues such as human rights violations in Azerbaijan and social and economic problems, as well as reports on the situation in the region. It also features discussions on current issues with various experts. The English-language version, in particular, broadcasts reports on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In 2014, when pressure on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Azerbaijan intensified and several NGO leaders were imprisoned, Aziz’s brother Anar, the co-founder of Kanal 13, was forced to leave the country. Anar Orujov currently lives in Germany and continues his work there.
Aziz Orujov remained in Azerbaijan, but has since faced both short-term administrative detention and long-term imprisonment on criminal charges due to his work.
Aziz Orujov was first detained on 2 May 2017, when he was sentenced to thirty days of administrative detention for allegedly disobeying police orders. At the time, Orujov stated that there was no question of disobedience, as he was suddenly stopped by the police whilst walking with his wife. His wife was released, but Orujov was charged with an administrative offence and sentenced in court.
Instead of being released after serving his sentence, a criminal case was brought against Orujov on the day he was due to be discharged, and he remained in detention. This time, Orujov was charged for illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of power (Articles 192 and 308 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code) for the activities of the Caucasus Media Investigations Center, a regional NGO that he ran with his brother. The Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Orujov to six years in prison on these charges.
On 5 April 2018, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan altered Orujov’s sentence: the charge under Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship) was dropped, and the charge under Article 308.2 (abuse of power) was reclassified to Article 308.1. He was given a three-year suspended sentence and released from prison.
In November 2023, another criminal case was opened against Aziz Orujov. He was detained on 27 November, and later that evening, both his home and the Kanal 13 office were searched. He was charged under Article 188.2 of the Criminal Code (unauthorised construction on land without ownership, use, or lease rights), and on 28 November, the Sabail District Court ordered his pre-trial detention.
The criminal case initially alleged that Orujov had built a house without state permits. However, approximately twenty days later, on 19 December, Orujov was additionally charged under Article 206.3.2 (smuggling by a group of persons).
Orujov has called these charges absurd, linking his detention to the activities of the channel he runs. He emphasised that he is being punished for his journalistic work.
Orujov has now been in prison for nine months, whilst the investigation into his case continues at the Police Department of Sabail district.
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