The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release Farid Mehralizada, an economist and journalist with U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani service, known locally as Radio Azadliq, who has been detained on currency smuggling charges since May. On October 30, RFE/RL issued a statement calling for the release of Mehralizada, whose work for the outlet was published without attribution for his safety.

“As Azerbaijan gears up to host the U.N. climate change conference COP29 with at least 15 journalists facing potentially lengthy prison terms, Farid Mehralizada’s case once again demonstrates how absurdly easy it is for those with critical views to get swept up in the country’s relentless crackdown,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Azerbaijan’s government should face international opprobrium if they fail to release Mehralizada and all other unjustly jailed journalists ahead of COP29.”

Source: cpj.org