Imprisoned journalist Sevinj Vagifgizi included for the second year in a row in the list of journalists requiring the most urgent international defence

The name of Sevinc Vaqifqızı, the imprisoned editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, has been included for the second time in the “10 Most Urgent” list of journalists persecuted in their own countries. The journalist was also on the list last year.

Ahead of May 3, World Press Freedom Day, more than 40 global media organizations, united under the One Free Press Coalition, released the list to draw attention to journalists who are under threat for trying to bring the truth to the public. This year’s “10 Most Urgent” list focuses on journalists around the world who have been targeted with “terrorism” or “anti-state” charges.

Using its reach of more than one billion people, the coalition aims to draw attention to the cases of 10 journalists facing press persecution in 2026.

The list says the following about Sevinj Vagifgizi:

“Since 2023, Azerbaijan has implemented a major crackdown on independent press, criminally charging at least 16 journalists including Sevinj Vagifgizi, the chief editor of anti-corruption investigative outlet Abzas Media. She and five colleagues have been arrested, and she continues to be detained in reportedly “horrific conditions” on multiple financial crime charges in relation to allegedly illegally receiving funding from Western donors.

Police claimed to have found more than $43,000 during a search of the outlet’s offices. Vagifgizi and her colleagues deny the charges and claim they are retaliation for Abzas Media’s published investigative series into the wealth of public figures.

“This case is not about smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, or document forgery,” Vagifgizi, 35, said during a March 2025 hearing. “It’s about intolerance for the truth.” The journalists could face up to 12 years in detention.”

Alongside Sevinj Vagifgizi, the list also includes Reza Valizadeh from Iran, Jimmy Lai from Hong Kong, Pham Doan Trang from Vietnam, Zhang Zhan from China, Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva from Tajikistan, Si Conrad from Cameroon, Frenchie Mae Cumpio from the Philippines, Genet Asmamaw from Ethiopia, and Christophe Gleizes from Algeria.

The coalition also notes that three journalists who were included in the list announced in May 2025 were later released. They are Vladyslav Yesypenko, who had been imprisoned in Russian-occupied Crimea since 2021; Shin Daewe, who had been detained in Myanmar since October 2023; and Ihar Losik, who had been imprisoned in Belarus.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of December 1, 2025, 61 percent of jailed journalists worldwide were being held on “anti-state” charges. These charges include allegations of terrorism and receiving funding from foreign governments.

The list was prepared in cooperation with CPJ, the International Women’s Media Foundation, and Reporters Without Borders.

According to CPJ, 330 journalists around the world are currently imprisoned in connection with their professional work.

The One Free Press Coalition has issued a collective call to support the individuals included in the list.

Sevinj Vagifgizi was arrested in November 2023. Along with her, Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli, project coordinator Mahammad Kekalov, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, journalists Elnara Gasimova and Nargiz Absalamova, and economist Farid Mehralizada, an employee of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, were also detained.

They were charged with smuggling and financial crimes, but rejected the accusations. On June 20, 2025, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinc Vaqifqızı, Hafiz Babali and Farid Mehralizada to nine years in prison; Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to eight years; and Mahammad Kekalov to seven years and six months.

On September 9, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the verdict.

International media and human rights organizations describe these arrests as part of a campaign aimed at silencing free media in Azerbaijan. According to recent reports, around 30 journalists are imprisoned in the country because of their professional activities. The Azerbaijani government, however, says that no journalist in the country is persecuted because of their professional work and that those arrested have been held accountable for specific crimes.