: Jamil Hasanli, chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces , directly accused the government and security services of orchestrating the leak to force him out of politics.
Cəmil Həsənlinin qızının olduğu deyilən görüntülərin ... - BBC
While the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs eventually opened a criminal case under Article 242 (illegal distribution of pornographic materials), activists noted that such investigations often move slowly when victims are members of civil society. This incident is frequently cited alongside the harassment of other figures, such as journalist Khadija Ismayilova , as evidence of systemic digital repression in the region.
Günel Həsənlinin intim videolarını yayan şəxsin kimliyi bilindi
: Investigative reports from Meydan TV revealed that the video was likely part of a long-term plot. A man identifying himself as "Mahir Allahverdiyev" reportedly entered a relationship with Gunel with the intent to secretly record her.
: International observers, including OC Media and Eurasianet , highlighted the breach of Article 32 of the Azerbaijani Constitution, which protects the right to privacy. Legal and Social Impact
In late March 2021, private footage of Gunel Hasanli was disseminated across social media and messaging platforms like Telegram. The incident followed a pattern of "sextape" leaks used in Azerbaijan to target the families of dissidents and female activists to silence political opposition.
