American media groups demand release of Azerbaijani journalists

journalism freedom media persecution Azerbaijan Voice of America Radio Free Europe

American media organizations and representatives are calling on Azerbaijani authorities to release two journalists, Ulviya Aliashishli and Farid Mehralizada.

Aliashishli, a former employee of the government-funded ‘Voice of America’, was detained in May 2025 in connection with the ‘MedeaTV’ case. She denies the allegations, stating she is being persecuted for her journalistic work.

Mehralizada, an economist and journalist formerly with ‘Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’, was detained in May 2024 and received a 79-year prison sentence. He was convicted of charges including currency smuggling, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery in a case involving the independent media outlet ‘Abzas Media’.

A coalition of organizations has formed to advocate for their release, including current and former staff from Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, as well as MediaSafe, a journalist safety organization based in Virginia led by Eric Phillips.

Entities

Ali Mohajani · Azerbaijan · Farid Mehralizada · Farid Mehralizade · Georgian Dream · Irakli Kobakhidze · MediaSafe · Paata Salia · Prosecutor's Office of Georgia · Queen Ketevan · Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty · Tamaz Elizbarashvili

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Ulviya Aliashishli worked for the government-funded ‘Voice of America’ and was detained in May 2025 regarding the ‘MedeaTV’ case.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The accused journalists claim that the charges against them are directly related to their professional journalistic activities.
[○ 1 SOURCE] American media organizations and representatives are demanding the release of Azerbaijani journalists Ulviya Aliashishli and Farid Mehralizada from Azerbaijani authorities.
[○ 1 SOURCE] A group including current and former employees of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, along with the Virginia-based organization MediaSafe, has formed to support the journalists'释放.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Farid Mehralizada was convicted of currency smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Farid Mehralizada, an economist and journalist for ‘Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’, was detained in May 2024 and sentenced to 79 years in prison.