Azerbaijan summoned the U.S., French, and German envoys to express its protest against what it alleges are "illegal financial operations" in support of an investigative news outlet. This move comes in response to the recent arrest of three individuals affiliated with the independent online platform Abzas Media.

The staff members of Abzas Media were detained on November 21 and subsequently held in custody for a four-month period on charges related to smuggling. During the arrest, police reported the discovery of 40,000 euros ($44,000) at the outlet's offices in Baku. Notably, two of the three individuals have denied the charges, while the plea of the third person is yet to be entered.

The developments surrounding the arrests and the alleged financial operations have heightened tensions between Azerbaijan and the United States, France, and Germany. The diplomatic engagement reflects the seriousness with which Azerbaijan views the situation and its concerns about external involvement in the affairs of the investigative news outlet.

In a statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said the diplomats had been told that their embassies and "organisations registered in these countries" had committed illegal actions by financially supporting Abzas Media.

The investigative news outlet, Abzas Media, facing allegations of involvement in illegal financial operations, has not publicly disclosed any evidence to substantiate the accusations.

Azerbaijan's diplomatic relations with certain Western countries have undergone a deterioration since September. This shift in relations coincided with Baku's complete reclamation of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a near-total evacuation of the territory's ethnic Armenian population. The events in September have contributed to heightened tensions and altered dynamics in Azerbaijan's interactions with specific Western nations.

Following the Azerbaijani attack, some Western nations, including the United States and France, criticized the action and extended humanitarian aid and diplomatic support to Armenia. Azerbaijan asserted that President Ilham Aliyev conveyed to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that American support for Armenia had "seriously damaged" bilateral ties. Additionally, Azerbaijani police arrested Aziz Orujev, the head of the Kanal 13 online video channel.

According to Orujev's legal representative, he faces charges of unauthorized construction, a potential sentence ranging from one to three years of imprisonment. Orujev staunchly denies the allegations, asserting that they are a consequence of his journalistic activities.

Numerous international press freedom organizations have called for the immediate release of Abzas Media staff. They characterize the arrest of these individuals as a deliberate effort to suppress their anti-corruption reporting. The demand for their release underscores concerns about press freedom and the perceived targeting of journalists engaged in investigative work.

Image source: Reuters