Statement from VOA director
VOA contributor marks one year behind bars in Azerbaijan
By Mike Abramowitz, VOA director
Published
VOA contributor Ulviyya Guliyeva is arrested in Azerbaijan in May 2025. (Fargana Novruzova)
Today marks one year since Voice of America journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva was detained by authorities in Azerbaijan.
Ulviyya Guliyeva, 32, is an Azerbaijani journalist who has worked as a freelance reporter and contributor to independent media, including the Voice of America’s Azerbaijani Service. She is among the few journalists who continued reporting from within the country on politically sensitive issues.
One year ago, authorities arrested Ulviyya at her home in Baku following a police raid. Reports indicate that she was subjected to physical mistreatment, her apartment was searched, and her equipment was seized. Authorities have charged her with smuggling under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, an offense that carries a potential eight-year sentence. Her detention comes amid a broader crackdown on independent media in the country, raising concerns that she has been targeted due to her work with the Voice of America.
Ulviyya remains in pre-trial detention in Baku; many of her colleagues have deep concerns about her health and well-being.
We recognize the vital role that VOA journalists like Ulviyya play in providing truthful and accurate news about the United States and other issues for those who lack access to a free press. Between 2019 and 2026, Ulviyya faithfully supported U.S. foreign policy objectives through her work for Voice of America.
We call on the authorities in Azerbaijan to ensure her well-being, review the charges against her in a fair and transparent manner, and take appropriate steps toward her release.
We also remember Pham Chi Dung and Le Anh Hung, two journalists who are being held in Vietnam due to their reporting for the Voice of America. We call on authorities in Hanoi to carefully consider the charges against them and to take meaningful steps toward their release. Their colleagues at Voice of America will never forget them, nor their service.