Azerbaijan's security agency apprehends a scholar-freelance journalist.
A Azerbaijani researcher and freelance journalist, Bahruz Samadov, has reportedly been locked up in Baku, suspected of engaging in anti-state activities.
Known for his contributions to multiple media outlets like Eurasianet, Samadov was heard from last on August 21, with friends and family claiming he was taken into custody by Azerbaijan's security service reps. The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reportedly contacted Samadov's grandmother, informing her that her grandson is being accused of treason, according to reports.
Rights activists link Samadov's detention to the Azerbaijani government's ongoing efforts to silence opposition politicians and independent journalists. Gulnoza Said, the Europe and Central Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, shared her concerns, stating, "The critical reports and analytical insights that Samadov has been renowned for do not equate treason. The authorities must either produce evidence of their allegations or let Samadov go free."
A PhD student at CharlesUniversity in Prague, Samadov has been a frequent analyst for various print and broadcast outlets, offering unfiltered insights on current affairs, including Azerbaijan's mission to recapture Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani government has yet to confirm Samadov's detention or reveal the reason for it as of August 22.
Eurasianet's board chair, Jeffrey Trimble, expressed his dismay at Samadov's arrest, stating, "Given the deepening suppression of independent voices in Azerbaijan, the arrest of Bahruz Samadov is alarming. The Azerbaijani authorities should substantiate their reasons for detaining Bahruz in a transparent and timely manner, or let him go free. We will be closely monitoring his case."
In a political landscape, the allegations against Samadov seem to be driven by his peace advocacy and academic work, which some see as an attempt to stifle dissent and academic freedom in Azerbaijan. The ongoing pre-trial proceedings and continued detention have raised serious concerns about political repression in the country.
The news of Bahruz Samadov's detention in Baku, under accusations of anti-state activities, is drawing criticism from rights activists and the international community. His work, primarily in the fields of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice, has often been critical, leading some to speculate that his peace advocacy and academic work might be the driving force behind the allegations against him.
