Abzas Media’s imprisoned editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi (Abbasova) and journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova have been on hunger strike for the past three days.

Their families confirmed the protest, saying the three launched the hunger strike in solidarity with Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli, who began refusing food after being transferred from the Baku Pretrial Detention Center to a penitentiary complex in the Umbaki settlement.

“They are protesting the unlawful transfer of Ulvi Hasanli to Umbaki and are demanding his return to the Baku Pretrial Detention Center. As soon as the hunger strike began, the women were placed in solitary confinement and their personal belongings were forcibly taken from them,” a family member said.

Relatives also report that while Sevinc Vagifgizi and Elnara Gasimova were informing their families about the hunger strike during phone calls, the conversations were abruptly cut off.

Lawyer Subhan Hasanli stated that there is no legal basis for transferring Ulvi Hasanli to Umbaki prison.

“The only detention ruling currently in effect for Ulvi Hasanli, issued by the Khatai District Court on 21 November 2023, clearly states that he is to be held at the Baku Pretrial Detention Center. No subsequent court decision has altered this, and the order remains legally binding,” Hasanli said.

“At this stage, the pretrial detention order against Ulvi Hasanli remains in effect. If the Court of Appeal upholds the verdict issued by the Baku Serious Crimes Court on 20 June 2025, the ruling will become legally binding, and he will be transferred to a prison facility. Until then, he must remain at the facility designated in the 21 November ruling - the Baku Pretrial Detention Center,” the lawyer added.

On 20 June, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced six Abzas Media journalists and staff members to prison terms ranging from 7,5 to 9 years. Following the verdict, the male defendants were transferred from the Baku Pretrial Detention Center to the penitentiary complex in Umbaki.

At the new facility, Ulvi Hasanli was reportedly subjected to mistreatment and told he would be denied visitation rights with his wife and young daughter. Held in a disciplinary cell, Hasanli has now been on hunger strike for nine days in protest.