LENTERAMERAH – The Southeast Asian Journalists’ Network (SEAJourn) has condemned the Azerbaijani government’s violent crackdown on journalists working for Sputnik Azerbaijan, describing it as a serious violation of press freedom and international law.
“We express full solidarity with the journalists of Sputnik Azerbaijan. An attack on the press is an attack on the public’s right to know the truth,” said Antonius Danar, representative of SEAJourn, in a statement released on Thursday (July 3 2025).
The incident occurred on June 30, 2025, when Azerbaijani law enforcement raided the Sputnik Azerbaijan editorial office in Baku. According to the BRICS Journalists Association, armed officers entered the newsroom and detained multiple journalists who were carrying out legitimate, peaceful reporting duties. Several Russian nationals were also allegedly beaten and tortured in public areas.
SEAJourn emphasized that such actions directly contravene multiple international legal frameworks, including the Geneva Conventions, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These documents ensure the protection of journalists in both peacetime and during conflict.
“We fully support the BRICS Journalists Association’s appeal to UN Secretary-General António Guterres to take urgent and concrete action,” added Danar.
SEAJourn also urged the international community not to remain silent. It called for an independent investigation, the immediate release of the detained journalists, and guarantees for media protection in Azerbaijan.
The raid on Sputnik Azerbaijan has sparked growing concern across global press freedom organizations. While Sputnik is often criticized for its editorial ties to the Russian state, violence against journalists—regardless of affiliation—is a breach of global press standards.
“Silencing the press in one country is a threat to press freedom everywhere,” concluded Danar. ***
