Ulviyya Guliyeva, also known as Ulviyya Ali, has been detained by Azerbaijani authorities, becoming the 25th journalist to be jailed on disputed charges in the past 18 months. Her arrest is part of a broader crackdown on critical voices in Azerbaijan. In a note intended for release upon her detention, Guliyeva stated, “If you are reading this note it is because I have been unjustly jailed for my journalism work. Like my other journalist colleagues, I have committed no crime.”
Guliyeva’s detention follows an investigation into Meydan TV, Azerbaijan’s largest independent media outlet based in exile. She is the 11th journalist connected to this investigation to be imprisoned since December 2024.
In January 2025, Guliyeva was placed under a travel ban after being questioned about her ties to Meydan TV. Although she denied working for the outlet, she argued that such an association would not constitute a crime.
Previously serving as Voice of America’s (VOA) correspondent in Azerbaijan until February 2025—when VOA’s accreditation was revoked—Guliyeva recently reported on court hearings involving opposition politician Tofig Yagublu and journalists from Abzas Media.
Earlier this month, police searched Guliyeva’s apartment and claimed to find smuggled money. During interrogation, she allegedly faced physical assault and threats of sexual violence aimed at obtaining her mobile device password.
Her family reports that following interrogation, Guliyeva experienced repeated vomiting and has requested medical evaluation including an MRI scan due to potential internal injuries. This request remains pending.
Authorities accuse Guliyeva of colluding with Meydan TV reporters to smuggle money into Azerbaijan—a charge both she and Meydan TV representatives deny. Many journalists arrested since November 2023 face similar accusations.
Other freelance journalists implicated in the Meydan TV case include Fatima Movlamli, Nurlan Libre, and Shamshad Aghayev.
Critics argue that these arrests aim to intimidate journalists and suppress independent reporting. However, they suggest such actions reveal the authorities’ fear of factual reporting.
