Georgia: Azerbaijani Journalist Aytan Farhadova Fears Surveillance and Attacks in Exile
Numerous incidents in Tbilisi heighten safety concerns for Azerbaijanis who have sought refuge in the country
Location: Georgia, Tbilisi
Date: February 6, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses deep concern over the ongoing harassment and intimidation faced by exiled Azerbaijani journalists currently living in Georgia. Reports from several journalists indicate a disturbing pattern of attacks, harassment, and surveillance by what they believe to be Azerbaijani security services. Despite seeking refuge in Georgia, these journalists, including Aytan Farhadova, continue their work of reporting on and speaking out against the regime, maintaining connections with international media outlets and human rights organizations. However, their increased visibility also makes them more vulnerable to reprisals from the Azerbaijani government. In light of these risks, we urgently call upon Georgian authorities to take decisive action to ensure the safety and protection of exiled Azerbaijani journalists within their borders. They must be afforded the necessary support and safeguards to continue their work without fear of persecution or harm.
In 2019, investigative reporter Aytan Farhadova fled Azerbaijan, seeking refuge in neighboring Georgia. Reflecting on her departure, Farhadova recounts, "I was losing myself. The way we speak has changed…. We use code words for everything. We think that they are listening to us everywhere, watching us everywhere."
Azerbaijani journalists face significant challenges in their home country due to limited press freedom and government crackdowns on independent media. President Ilham Aliyev's regime has drawn criticism for its suppression of dissent, targeting journalists who report on corruption or criticize the government.
The recent intensification of the state's crackdown has seen the targeting of independent investigative outlet AbzasMedia. Six of the outlet’s journalists, including editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi and journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova were arrested on dubious charges and remain in detention.
Now, Farhadova feels her safe haven in Georgia is at risk, due to rising attacks on exiled Azerbaijani journalists and activists in the country. Suspicions that Azerbaijani security services have agents among Azerbaijani businesses operating in Georgia compound these fears.
“I was losing myself. The way we speak has changed…. We use code words for everything. We think that they are listening to us everywhere, watching us everywhere”
Afgan Mukhtarli, a prominent journalist who had fled to Tbilisi with his family in 2014, was abducted there in 2017 and handed over to Azerbaijani authorities. Subsequently, he was charged with illegal border crossing, leading to a six-year prison sentence. In May that year, demonstrators convened in Tbilisi, urging the Georgian government to clarify how the journalist vanished from the Georgian capital and ended up imprisoned across the Azerbaijani border in Baku, Mukhtarli served three years before being released in 2020.
In September 2023 Gurban Mammadli, a journalist and activist, was beaten in a Tbilisi restaurant, with suspicions of Azerbaijani involvement. Also in the capital, Elmaddin Shamilzade faced a targeted attack, with Azerbaijani men demanding money and brandishing weapons. Activist Nurana Ashurova, who now lives in Georgia, experienced surveillance and threats while campaigning for her husband's release from detention in Azerbaijan.
The deaths of three Azerbaijani activists in Georgia, including Husein Bakikhanov, under suspicious circumstances, have instilled a chilling effect among exiles. Although his death was ruled a suicide, in Bakikhanov's final video he revealed he had been attacked and threatened by a group of Azerbaijanis.
Each of these incidents serve as a stark reminder of the risks journalists face outside their home country.
Journalists like Aytan Farhadova navigate their daily lives with caution, apprehensive about interacting with fellow Azerbaijanis in Georgia due to fears of surveillance and targeting.
"That's why I often just don't communicate with Azerbaijanis," Farhadova reveals, highlighting the pervasive climate of fear and distrust pervasive among exiled journalists.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly denounces any attempts to attack or intimidate exiled Azerbaijani journalists. Host countries bear the responsibility to ensure the safety of those seeking refuge within their borders. Attacks against journalists must be thoroughly investigated, and perpetrators held accountable. The cross-border suppression of dissent is not only alarming but also illegal, and concerted action by Georgian authorities is imperative to safeguard journalists fleeing oppression.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.