human rights defender

Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli)

Actions and Campaigns

© Social Media

Urgent support needed

International monitoring of prison conditions

Organization affiliation

  • Portagal Media

HRD's year of birth

1997

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • Journalist/Blogger

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

HRD's bio and work

Nurlan Gahramanli, professionally known as Nurlan Libre, is an Azerbaijani journalist who began his career in 2018. He previously reported for Kanal13 and founded Portağal Media. His reporting covers elections, public demonstrations and civil and political rights. He has experienced repeated detention and police interference while carrying out his journalistic work.

Gahramanli was detained on 20 February 2025 in connection with the “Meydan TV case”. On 21 February, the Khatai District Court ordered his pretrial detention. Additional accusations were brought against him in August 2025. He remains in custody while his trial alongside the other defendants continues before the Baku Grave Crimes Court.

He was charged with multiple offences, including money laundering, tax evasion, and other alleged financial and economic offences. He and his co-defendants have consistently rejected all charges, maintaining that the criminal proceedings against them are politically motivated and linked to their legitimate and professional works within civil society. International organisations recognise him as a political prisoner.

Current Status

In prison (pre-trial)

Detained since

Feb 20, 2025

Charge(s)

  • Financial crimes

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Western Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Baku

Location of detention - Facility

Baku Pre-Trial Detention Centre

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

Nurlan Gahramanli (Libre) has reported repeated physical violence and punitive treatment during his current detention. On 1 December 2025, he was reportedly restrained to a chair for approximately one hour in a painful position by escort officers at the Sabail District Court after complaining about the lack of medical supplies. His wife subsequently reported that he had been held in cold, unsanitary disciplinary confinement and that his psychological condition had deteriorated. In a complaint published on 1 March 2026, he alleged threats and placement in an unsanitary punishment cell in retaliation for his hunger strike, restrictions on calls and visits, and refusal to transfer him to the medical unit despite worsening health. According to his wife, on 2 May 2026, a detention officer beat him, trapped his arms in the cell-door hatch and twisted his handcuffed arms upwards behind his back, leaving visible marks.

Recent case update / evolution

On 12 October 2026, witnesses were questioned before the Baku Grave Crimes Court in the “Meydan TV case”, in which Nurlan Gahramanli is a defendant. The trial remains ongoing.

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