The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) has expressed deep concern over the detention and reported abuse of Azerbaijani journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva, a contributor to the now-shuttered Voice of America (VOA) service.
Guliyeva was arrested by Baku police on May 7 and charged with foreign currency smuggling — a charge widely seen as a pretext often used to silence independent journalists in Azerbaijan. According to reports from her family, VOA, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the journalist has been subjected to physical abuse and threats of sexual violence while in custody.
IWMF described the situation as dire and emblematic of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Azerbaijan. Guliyeva’s home was raided and she was interrogated about her alleged links to the independent media outlet Meydan TV, despite not being on its staff.
“She is one of at least 24 journalists currently behind bars in Azerbaijan simply for doing their jobs,” IWMF stated, adding that the country ranks 167th on RSF’s Global Press Freedom Index, reflecting a sharply deteriorating media environment.
The organization also criticized the closure of Voice of America, noting that the absence of such institutions has left many journalists without the protection and visibility needed to deter government persecution.
“In the absence of international scrutiny, authoritarian regimes are increasingly emboldened to suppress dissent and violate basic human rights,” the statement read.
IWMF is calling for the immediate release of Ulviyya Guliyeva and is urging the United States government to reinstate Voice of America’s operations to help safeguard press freedom globally.
