Samira Gasimli, the wife of jailed Azerbaijani opposition politician Azar Gasimli, reported being barred from leaving the country for a European conference. She later discovered a travel ban was imposed on her, purportedly for defamation linked to her husband's legal proceedings.
Gasimli stated on social media that she has not received formal charges, questioning the legality of the restriction. She views the complaint as a tactic of state pressure against her, suggesting it could be a pretext for further legal action.
Azar Gasimli, her husband, a former Deputy Chair of the opposition REAL Party, was arrested in December 2024. Accused of demanding money by threat or force, he received a 12-year prison sentence in March 2026.
The politician's arrest stemmed from a complaint by Gurbanali Yusifov, who claimed Gasimli threatened him for money. Gasimli's lawyer, Agil Layij, told Meydan TV the initial 48-hour detention was unlawful.
Samira Gasimli plans to contact the Interior Ministry and Baku Main Police Department to ascertain the ban's legal basis, she told OC Media. She linked the travel prohibition to her human rights advocacy for political prisoners, particularly their families.
Gasimli highlighted the perilous conditions faced by political prisoners, citing activist Elbayi Karimli’s death in December 2025. The Justice Ministry claimed suicide, following Karimli's August 2023 arrest for defacing a statue.
She also mentioned Avaz Zeynalli, the Khural editor-in-chief, released in April 2025 due to severe illness following a bribery conviction. Alasgar Mammadli, a Toplum TV co-founder, reportedly suffers serious health issues while detained.
Gasimli strongly affirmed that authorities bear responsibility for the lives and wellbeing of political prisoners, criticising their perceived failure to uphold this duty. She described their health and safety as a matter of personal urgency.