TransparencyAbuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice

Azerbaijani court sentences nine Toplum TV and civil-society figures to 12 to 15 years over foreign funding

Confidence: Corroborated · 3 sourcesAzerbaijan · Oct 6, 2026

Subject of this story

Baku Grave Crimes Court

Also named

Affected

Toplum TV

Akif Gurbanov, Civil-society figure, Third Republic platform

Ruslan Izzatli, Civil-society figure, Third Republic platform

Alasgar Mammadli, Co-founder, Toplum TV

Advocate

Human Rights Watch

What happened

On 27 July 2026 the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced nine journalists and civil-society workers linked to Toplum TV and the Third Republic platform to between 12 and 15 years in prison, including Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli (15 years each) and Toplum TV co-founder Alasgar Mammadli (14 years). Authorities charged them with running an organised criminal group and committing financial crimes involving the receipt of Western donor funds; they say outlets had to obtain state approval for foreign grants. All defendants deny the charges, and their lawyer says the ruling is politically motivated. Human Rights Watch says these are the harshest sentences in the country's crackdown on independent media.

By the numbers (3)

● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported

Roles

○

Akif Gurbanov was sentenced to 15 years.

Baku Grave Crimes Court · Akif Gurbanov15 years.

1 source

hrw.orgAkif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli: 15 years each

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Alasgar Mammadli was sentenced to 14 years.

Baku Grave Crimes Court · Alasgar Mammadli14 years.

1 source

hrw.orgAlasgar Mammadli: 14 years

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Ruslan Izzatli was sentenced to 15 years.

Baku Grave Crimes Court · Ruslan Izzatli15 years.

1 source

hrw.orgAkif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli: 15 years each

Sources (3)

hrw.orgAkif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli: 15 years each; Alasgar Mammadli: 14 years; all denied the charges and said the prosecutions were politically motivated.

Committee to Protect JournalistsNine individuals convicted of operating an organized criminal group; authorities state civil society groups must obtain state approval for foreign grants.

WSLS (AP)Not a single defense motion has been granted by the court; charges of illegally receiving and using Western donor funds as part of an organized criminal group.

Response

Baku Grave Crimes Court

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