Vagif Allahverdiyev

Affiliated media: Blogger

Incident date: January 21, 2026

Attack type:

• Criminal/administrative prosecution excluding (1), (2) and (3)

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Meydan.tv

Location: Azerbaijan, Baku

Additional information:

The Baku Grave Crimes Court has sentenced Vagif Allahverdiyev, the founder of the YouTube channel “Victor Alexander,” who lives abroad, to eight years’ imprisonment. He was convicted of “calling for mass riots and violence,” and the verdict was delivered in absentia. Allahverdiyev is known for publishing videos that sharply criticise the Azerbaijani government. Over the past year, in-absentia verdicts have been issued against nearly ten journalists and bloggers who, like him, have left Azerbaijan and gone into exile. Their relatives who remain in Azerbaijan have reportedly faced unprecedented pressure.