Ulvi Hasanli

Ulvi Hasanli (full name: Ulvi Fakhraddin oglu Hasanov, Azerbaijani: Ülvi Fəxrəddin oğlu Həsənov; born; August 10, 1987, Ganja) — Azerbaijani political activist, media professional, political prisoner, and the director of Abzas Media.

He has been involved in political and civic processes since 2005. Over the years, he served as: Chairman of the youth movement Wave (Dalğa) (2006–2007), Co-founder and chairman of the organization Free Youth (Azad Gəncliк) (2011–2013), Member of the board of the NIDA Civic Movement (2014–2015, 2017–2018, and 2019–2020). Throughout his political activity, Hasanli has been subjected to continuous persecution by the Azerbaijani authorities. He repeatedly organized and participated in rallies, protests, and pickets. In October 2012, he was sentenced to 7 days of administrative detention, and in September 2013, to 15 days of detention. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that both arrests were politically motivated. In 2017, Hasanli was detained by military police and illegally conscripted into military service.

In 2016, he co-founded Abzas Media. Since 2022, he has been actively engaged in journalism as the outlet’s director. Abzas Media is known for its investigative reporting into the business activities of government officials, members of parliament, and state-affiliated figures, particularly regarding tender contracts and corruption during reconstruction works in Karabakh after 2020.

Ulvi Hasanli was detained by police in the morning of 20 November 2023. After being interrogated at the Main Police Department of Baku, he was charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan (smuggling committed by a group of persons). On 21 November 2023, by decision of the Khatai District Court, he was placed under arrest. On 16 August 2024, the charges in the criminal case investigated by the Main Police Department of Baku were aggravated. Hasanli and other defendants were charged under seven articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan: Articles 192.3.2, 193-1.3.1, 193-1.3.2, 206.4, 320.1, and 320.2. These charges include: illegal entrepreneurship generating large income, money laundering committed by an organized group, smuggling committed by an organized group, forgery of documents and use of forged documents.

Numerous local and international human rights organizations condemned the arrest of Ulvi Hasanli, calling it politically motivated, and urged the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release him.

On 20 June 2025, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced him to 9 years of imprisonment.