Convicted journalist Babala complained about being deprived of his pension.

Journalist Hafiz Babali, imprisoned in Azerbaijan, lost his disability pension after security forces froze his bank accounts and failed to lift the restrictions after the verdict took effect.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, on June 20, a Baku court found journalists and employees of Abzas Media guilty of economic crimes. The publication's director, Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and economist Farid Mehralizade were each sentenced to nine years in prison; Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova were each sentenced to eight years; and Mohammed Kekalov was sentenced to 7.5 years. On September 9, the appellate court upheld the verdict.

Investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, convicted in the Abzas Media case, released a statement demanding that the ban on his bank account for receiving his disability pension be lifted. He stated that investigators "illegally" blocked all of his bank accounts, including his pension account, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported today.

All my bank accounts were blocked, including my pension account.

"When I was arrested, all my bank accounts were blocked, including my pension account. "Although, according to the law, the seizure of pension accounts is unacceptable, as these funds are not income, but rather finances managed by the state social security fund to pay individuals a minimum living wage," Babala said in a statement on his Facebook page*, which is managed by his family.

The journalist noted that the denial of his pension deprived him of his "only source of income."

According to Babala, on October 14, his lawyer filed formal petitions with the Baku Court of Grave Crimes and the Baku Court of Appeals to lift the ban on his pension account, but there have been no results. The journalist added that he expects the courts and other government agencies to resolve this issue.

The freezing of Babala's pension account was illegal from the outset, Babala's lawyer Rasul Jafarov told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

A pension is not considered a person's income, but is a benefit.

"When imposing a ban on the use of Babala's bank accounts, the investigative body should have indicated that this does not apply to the pension account. Because a pension is not considered a person's income, but is a benefit allocated by the state. On the other hand, the decision to freeze the accounts indicated that this ban applies to the period of criminal prosecution. This period has already ended—the verdict has already been issued, there is a decision of the appellate court, and the verdict has entered into legal force. For Hafiz Babala, unfreezing other bank accounts is not important, because they also contain "There were no funds. But lifting the ban on the account into which he received his pension as a third-degree visually impaired person is very important to him. His stay in the correctional facility is associated with expenses for his family – the delivery of food, clothing, medicine, and his pension could cover part of these expenses," said Jafarov.

14:32 31.10.2025

Serial Arrests of Journalists in Azerbaijan

Since November 2023, a series of arrests of journalists from independent media outlets has taken place in Azerbaijan, and several criminal cases have been opened under a similar scenario. The "Caucasian Knot" report details what led to the new wave of repression against the independent press.

He confirmed that on October 14, he appealed to both the Baku Court of Grave Crimes and the Baku Court of Appeal to lift the freeze on Babala's pension bank account.

"The bank tells us: 'We need a written decision from the court or another authorized body, and we will unfreeze the account.' On October 14, I officially submitted a written request to the Baku Court of Grave Crimes and the Baku Court of Appeal to lift the freeze on Babala's pension bank account. But they haven't responded to me and haven't sent the order to the bank," Jafarov noted.

He expressed hope that the issue will be resolved, otherwise, in the future, when Babala's complaint is considered in the European Court of Human Rights, a separate legal assessment will be made of his actual deprivation of his pension.

It was not possible to obtain comment from the Baku Court of Grave Crimes and the Baku Court of Appeal, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported.