Amid the ongoing crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Azerbaijani media outlets operating in exile Free Voices Collective, Meydan TV, Toplum TV and Qazetci have launched a postcard campaign titled “Flood them with fans” to support imprisoned journalist Sevinc Vagifgizi.
The goal is to draw attention to the fact that Sevinc Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, who has been held in the Baku Pretrial Detention Center for several months, has been denied access to a fan and to protest this situation.
Vagifgizi’s mother, Ofeliya Maharramova, told Meydan TV that her daughter asked for a fan two months ago. She brought one, but the head of the detention center, Elnur Ismayilov, did not allow it to be delivered:
“To avoid problems, I bought a plastic fan, not a metal one. When I brought it, I noticed that others had bought metal fans, and all of those were allowed inside. For two months now, I’ve been bringing the fan with me to the detention center and taking it back. The warden, Elnur Ismayilov, is acting on principle against Sevinj. He says, ‘Because you got writings out from here [the detention center], we won’t allow the fan in. Delete those articles from the website, and I’ll let the fan in.’ Sevinj says, ‘The articles will not be deleted, and the fan will go in.’ The last time I brought it was two weeks ago. They still didn’t allow it.”
RSF and its partner organizations are inviting the international public to write letters of solidarity to Sevinj Vagifgizi and other imprisoned journalists. The messages will be translated and printed on postcards with a symbolic image of a fan and delivered directly to the prison.
RSF and its media partners are calling on the international community to increase pressure on the Azerbaijani government.
The statement calls for the release of all journalists imprisoned on politically motivated charges, access to medical care and humane conditions for detainees, and an end to repression against all independent media outlets in Azerbaijan.
“We want to show that even prison walls cannot silence their voices. The Azerbaijani authorities must stop punishing journalists for their professional work and must ensure access to basic necessities,” said Anja Osterhaus, Executive Director of RSF Germany.
“This campaign is not just about a fan. It’s about dignity, justice, and international solidarity. We call on all journalists, activists, and citizens to support Sevinj and other journalists,” said Orkhan Mammad, editor of Meydan TV.
Sevinj Vagifgizi was arrested in November 2023.
She was initially charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a group in prior collusion).
Later, seven additional charges were brought against her, making the case more severe.
On June 20, at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, Vagifgizi was sentenced to nine years in prison in the so-called “Abzas Media case.”
She denies all charges and does not consider herself guilty.
