Human rights activists have recorded a significant increase in the number of imprisoned journalists in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is among the European countries with a high level of criminal prosecution of journalists. Of the 148 journalists held in prison at the end of 2025, 36 were in Azerbaijan.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," at the end of 2024, Azerbaijan was also among the leaders among countries on the continent in terms of the number of journalists held in prison, with 30 at that time, according to the annual report of the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists.

The Council of Europe's Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists released a 98-page report on March 3, titled "At the Tipping Point: Press Freedom 2025," which identifies the risks and threats facing journalists in Europe in 2025.

The report warns of the systematic use of imprisonment as a tool for media control. As of December 31, 2025, 148 journalists were in detention in Europe, including 36 in Azerbaijan. 32 in Russia, two in Armenia, and one in Georgia.

“Azerbaijan had 36 journalists imprisoned by the end of 2025. According to Amnesty International, this is “the highest number of imprisoned media workers held on politically motivated charges since Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe in 2001,” the report’s authors note.

Under the new legislation, foreign media outlets are now required to apply for registration in the media registry within seven days of mandatory state registration, otherwise they face liquidation. Among other provisions, the updated law requires news agencies to have at least 20 national media outlets subscribed to their news feed in order to be allowed to operate. “This provision appears specifically aimed at preventing the Turan news agency, which was forced to cease operations in February 2025, from resuming operations. Printed newspapers must no longer contain expressions "contrary to public order," the report's authors specifically note.

The Platform's partners called on the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and 46 Council of Europe member states to ensure adherence to press freedom standards. They recommend strengthening the safety of journalists, protecting the independence of public media, and enhancing the protection of women journalists, among other things, as priority measures.

"Currently, there is not a single independent media outlet in Azerbaijan. Alternative views can only reach audiences through the social media platforms of exiled media outlets and bloggers. Moreover, arrested journalists, even after serving their sentences, face psychological and sometimes physical pressure. The latest example is the use of force against Meydan TV journalists in Baku's Pretrial Detention Center No. 1 – Aytaj Taplig, Aysel Umudova, and Khayali Agayeva – and threats against Ulviye Ali," one Baku activist, who did not wish to be identified, told a correspondent. named.

Azerbaijani authorities deny allegations of persecution of government critics. "Azerbaijan ensures freedom of the media. There is no censorship in Azerbaijan, [but] there is a free internet, and hundreds of media outlets operate. Therefore, it would be unfair to criticize Azerbaijan for actions allegedly aimed at hindering the development of the media. "What kind of restrictions can we talk about when the internet is free?" Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on April 26, 2025, in Berlin at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Aliyev linked the arrests of journalists to "illegal funding from abroad." "Investigative bodies detained representatives of some media outlets illegally financed from abroad. And this was done in full compliance with Azerbaijani law. Every country must protect its laws. If a media representative illegally receiving funds from abroad is brought to justice, this does not mean our media is not free. Everyone must simply act within the law," the state-run Azertaj news agency quoted Aliyev as saying.