29/04/2026
🔴 On 30 May 2024, the Azerbaijani economist Farid Mehralizade was stopped by a group of plained-clothed police officers while walking to work. The officers, who were wearing balaclavas, put a black bag on Farid’s head, handcuffed him and pushed him into a car. In the car, while still hooded, he was assaulted, verbally abused, and threatened with sexual violence. The police officers implied he would be killed.
🔴 Farid, who has written pieces critical of the Azerbaijani Government’s social and environmental policies, was eventually interrogated at the main police station in Baku. He was asked what he knew about various NGOs and media organisations, including how they were funded.
🔴 He was subsequently charged with allegations linked to the smuggling of money from abroad, an all-too-familiar charge in Azerbaijan’s ongoing crackdown against human rights defenders, independent media and other dissenting voices.
🔴 700 days on, Farid remains in detention.
🔴 No specific evidence has been presented of his alleged crimes.
🔴 On 20 June 2025, he was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison.
🔴 On 3 April 2026, Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court rejected Farid’s appeal, making the conviction final.
Farid Mehralizade's case has been linked to charges against staff from Abzas Media, despite Farid having never worked for Abzas.
In October, we submitted Farid’s case to the European Court of Human Rights. We are challenging his arrest and detention as unlawful, arbitrary and politically motivated.
You can find more information on Farid’s detention at: https://freefarid.info
