FARID ISMAYILOV
Independent journalist of Toplum TV; in the past, cooperated with news outlets Pressklub and Kanal 13; imprisoned under bogus charges.
About Farid Ismayilov
Farid Ismayilov is an Azerbaijani journalist. He was born on 04 September 1998 in the Absheron region, Khirdalan. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Geological Engineering at Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (currently Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University), and received his Master’s in Education Management at Caucasus University.
His media career began at Pressklub and Kanal 13. In 2022, he joined Toplum TV.
Ismayilov is known for his independent reporting, which continued despite warnings from the authorities. He was initially detained in the “Toplum TV case” in March 2024 and later released under police supervision on health grounds. However, he continued his journalistic work, which the authorities cited as the reason for the subsequent revocation of his police supervision and his rearrest. Pro-government media published a video accusing him of passing information to “anti-Azerbaijan” individuals and organisations.
Case description
Farid Ismayilov was rearrested on 17 January 2025 at his home, after the authorities accused him of violating the conditions of earlier imposed police supervision.1
In March 2024, he was initially charged under Criminal Code Article 206.3.2 (smuggling committed by a group of persons in collusion), relating to the alleged illegal receipt of Western donor funding.Upon his rearrest in January 2025, the Khatai District Court remanded him to two months and twenty days of pre-trial detention. In the following months, his pre-trial detention was prolonged several times, and the lawyer’s motion to transfer him to house arrest due to his concerning health condition was denied.Following his detention, the authorities amended his charges and added six additional criminal offences to the indictment, including employing workers without a labour contract, illegal entrepreneurship with significant income, large-scale money laundering by an organised group, and tax evasion by an organised group.2,3
Farid Ismayilov has a serious medical history, and his health condition has been a major concern since his arrest. In 2023, he underwent major lung surgery three times and a separate nose surgery. His lawyer described him as frail and requiring frequent medical care following these surgeries. In detention, he reportedly struggles to breathe and is medically unfit to remain in detention. Relatives reported that he suffers from low blood sugar (exacerbated by not receiving food before court sessions), leading to severe headaches and blurred vision, as well as chronic migraines.He has repeatedly protested mandatory court appearances, citing a significant deterioration in his health due to the poor condition of the transportation vehicle. He stated that his health worsens after each trial and that he requires intravenous drips and medication afterwards. He requested to participate in the hearings via videoconference due to his health, but this motion was denied. His relatives claim he receives intravenous treatment negligently, administered through his cell vent (“accordion”).In September 2025, during a trial, Ismayilov stated that he had received death threats while in detention. The incident occurred when he was taken to the medical centre, where another inmate threw a glass at him. The prison authorities took no action regarding the incident.The trial into his case started in April 2025. He filed a motion requesting the presence of the Ombudsman at court sessions to monitor the proceedings. Currently, Ismayilov is held in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1.4,5,6
References
- https://cpj.org/data/people/farid-ismayilov/#:~:text=Share%20this:,cash%20while%20searching%20their%20apartments
- https://jam-news.net/another-journalist-arrested-in-azerbaijan-over-toplum-tv-case/#:~:text=On%20January%2017%2C%20the%20Khatai,the%20lawyers%20of%20the%20accused
- https://www.irfs.org/news-feed/independent-journalists-face-aggravated-charges-and-health-woes-in-ongoing-toplum-tv-case-trial/
- https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/68799#:~:text=During%20the%20trial%2C%20journalist%20Farid,his%20relatives%20told%20the%20publication
Resources about Farid Ismayilov
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