Investigative journalist Hafiz Babali and economist Fazil Gasimov have started a hunger strike in Penitentiary Institution No. 2, their relatives have told Abzas Media.
Babali was arrested in connection with the “Abzas Media case”, while Gasimov was detained as part of the criminal case against economist Gubad Ibadoghlu.
According to their relatives, the two began the hunger strike at 15:00 on 17 May, the day the World Urban Forum (WUF13) opened in Baku.
In a statement shared through their families, Babali and Gasimov said the action was intended to draw international attention to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan and to protest against political repression in the country.
“We call on senior UN officials, as well as heads of state and government participating in WUF13, to urge Azerbaijani officials during their meetings to call for the unconditional release of political prisoners,” the statement said.
Gasimov’s family said he would not end the hunger strike until the applications he submitted to the Plenum of the Supreme Court and the Narimanov District Court are reviewed.
In his application to the Narimanov District Court, Gasimov is seeking the annulment of a 11 September 2023 decision that removed his lawyer, Eldar Gadimi, from the criminal proceedings. He says the decision was based on a forged application allegedly written on his behalf.
Gasimov says an expert examination confirmed that the signature on the application was not his. He is asking the court to declare the decision unlawful and to issue a special ruling against investigator Yusif Yusifov.
In his application to the Plenum of the Supreme Court, Gasimov claims that employees of the Main Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, particularly Ramil Salimov, knowingly gave false testimony in court.
He is asking for this to be considered a newly discovered circumstance, for the Baku Court of Appeal’s decision to be overturned, and for the criminal case to be either terminated on acquittal grounds or returned to the court of first instance for reconsideration.
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Hafiz Babali was detained in December 2023 in connection with the “Abzas Media case”. Several other Abzas Media employees were also arrested in the same case, including director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, project coordinator Mahammad Kekalov, and journalists Elnara Gasimova and Nargiz Absalamova. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Farid Mehralizada was also arrested as part of the case.
On 20 June 2025, a court sentenced Hasanli, Vagifgizi, Babali and Mehralizada to nine years in prison. Absalamova and Gasimova were sentenced to eight years, while Kekalov received seven years and six months. On 9 September, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the verdict.
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Fazil Gasimov lived in Turkey for some time before being detained in Istanbul on 8 August 2023 and brought to Azerbaijan. He was arrested in connection with the criminal case against economist Gubad Ibadoghlu and charged under Article 204.3.1 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.
Ibadoghlu was initially placed under house arrest and later put under police supervision. His case was separated into separate proceedings.
On 13 March 2025, the Baku Court on Grave Crimes sentenced Gasimov to nine years in prison.
Local and international human rights organisations recognise both Babali and Gasimov as political prisoners.
