human rights defender
Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli)
Actions and Campaigns
© Social Media
human rights defender
Actions and Campaigns
© Social Media
International monitoring of prison conditions
1997
Man
Urban
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.
In prison (pre-trial)
Feb 20, 2025
Latitude: 40.496598530117815
Longitude: 49.92944062302657
Baku
Baku Pre-Trial Detention Centre
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.
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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