Azerbaijan Places Travel Ban on Wife of Jailed Opposition Politician
Baku, Azerbaijan – Samira Gasimli, the wife of imprisoned Azerbaijani opposition politician Azar Gasimli, has claimed she was placed under a travel ban by Azerbaijani authorities. The move follows accusations against her related to a defamation case brought by Gurbanali Yusifov, who had previously sued her husband. Azar Gasimli was sentenced to 12 years in prison in March 2026 after being convicted of demanding money by threat or force, a charge stemming from Yusifov’s complaint.
He alleged that Gasimli threatened him for money. Following his arrest in December 2024, he was held for 48 hours, a period his lawyer deemed unlawful. Samira Gasimli stated she was prevented from attending a conference in Europe.
She asserts she has not received formal charges and believes the accusation of defamation is a tactic by the authorities to restrict her movement. She questioned the legal basis for the travel ban, stating she had not been formally charged and was unaware of any court rulings. Gasimli’s travel ban coincides with ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
She highlighted the cases of other imprisoned activists, including Elbayi Karimli, who died in prison in December 2025 under disputed circumstances, and Avaz Zeynalli, a journalist suffering from cancer who was released after serving nine years for bribery charges. She also referenced the detention of Alasgar Mammadli, co-founder of Toplum TV, who is undergoing treatment for a serious illness. Gasimli emphasized her commitment to advocating for the release of her husband and other political prisoners, stating her travel plans were focused on raising awareness of their plight.
She has vowed to investigate the basis of the travel ban with the Interior Ministry and Baku Main Police Department. The situation underscores ongoing concerns about freedom of expression and due process within Azerbaijan. Keywords: gasimli, azerbaijan, travel
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This is a troubling development that raises serious concerns about freedom of movement and the treatment of family members of political prisoners.