The phone conversation was interrupted when Sevinj Vagifqizi informed her mother about it.

Due to the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29, held in Baku, restrictions were imposed on the arrested employees of Abzas Media.

When the editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, Sevinj Vagifgizı (Abbasova), told her mother, Ofelia Maharramova, about this, the phone conversation was interrupted.

"Due to COP29, our phone conversations with family have been limited to 2 minutes. They believe this is sufficient for families to know that their loved ones are safe and sound. Additionally, phone conversations will cease at 2 o'clock. Open meetings have been canceled altogether, and all foreign TV channels have been stopped in the prison." The call with Sevinj Vagifqizi was cut off before she could finish her thought.

Even before this, many defendants were unable to attend their trials in person due to COP29. They participated in the proceedings online from the Baku Investigation Detention Center No. 1, where they were being held. Since it was a non-working day, obtaining information from the Penitentiary Service was impossible.

Article 13.1 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan's decision, dated February 26, 2014, regarding the approval of internal disciplinary rules for prisons, states that after an arrested person arrives at the detention center, she can make a phone call to her close relatives or other individuals with legal ties to her. Later, these calls can last up to 15 minutes and may occur once or twice weekly to provide updates.

According to Article 13.3, the authority conducting the criminal process may limit a detained person's phone calls, except for conversations with their defense counsel, to prevent crimes, facilitate criminal prosecution, and ensure the safety of individuals. When it is necessary to maintain order in the pre-trial detention center, these calls may be restricted for a specified period based on a reasoned decision from the management of the detention facility.

The law clearly states that applying certain restrictions according to COP29 is illegal.

Last year, on November 20, Ulvi Hasanli, the director of Abzas Media, and his deputy, Mahammad Kekalov, were arrested. Following this, on November 21, Sevinj Vagifgizi, the site's editor-in-chief, was arrested. On November 30, journalist Nargiz Absalamova was also detained, followed by investigative journalist Hafiz Babali on December 13. Finally, reporter Elnara Gasimova was arrested on January 13.

They were all charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to smuggling committed by a group of individuals who conspired in advance. Pretrial detention was ordered for each of them.

Farid Mehralizade, who was arrested on June 1, was involved in the "Abzas Media case." However, he denies having any connections to this media outlet. In a statement, the editorial office of Abzas Media confirmed that the economist did not cooperate.

Subsequently, more serious charges were filed against those arrested in the "Abzas Media case," including seven additional criminal articles. They are now accused of illegal entrepreneurship with substantial income (Article 192.3.2), legalization of profits obtained through criminal activities conducted by an organized group (Articles 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2), smuggling by an organized group (Article 206.4), and falsification and use of forged documents (Articles 320.1 and 320.2). They also face charges of group tax evasion (Article 213.2.1).

As a result of these charges, they are now facing a potential maximum sentence of 12 years in prison, up from 8 years previously.

The journalists deny all allegations, asserting that their arrests are linked to corruption investigations published by Abzas Media.