Sunday arrests: 7 detained in "Meydan TV" case
A large number of employees from yet another independent media outlet in Azerbaijan, Meydan TV, have been arrested. Among those detained are individuals who claimed they did not cooperate with the organization. Like the previously arrested journalists, they have been charged with smuggling. The journalists reject the charges, stating that the arrests are related to their professional activities.
This is the third media outlet to face mass arrests. Prior to this, seven people were arrested in the “Abzas Media” case and seven more in the “Toplum TV” case, with two individuals placed under police supervision.
On Sunday, December 8, employees of Meydan TV and several other media representatives who were detained two days earlier appeared before court. The Khatai District Court of Baku ruled that the following individuals from Meydan TV—Aynur Elgunesh (Gambarova), Natig Javadli, Khayala Agayeva, Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Tapdig (Ahmadova), independent journalist Ramin Deko (Jabrailzade), and the deputy director of the Baku Journalism School, Ulvi Tahirov—who are charged under Article 206.3.2 (smuggling committed by a group of individuals in advance) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, would be held in custody for four months.
The charges carry a potential prison sentence of 5 to 8 years.
Meydan TV has previously faced criminal charges. The first case against the publication was initiated in 2015. Despite multiple interrogations of journalists working with the outlet by the Investigation Department for Serious Crimes of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the details of the criminal case have not been made public. Dozens of media representatives who were questioned as witnesses in the case were banned from leaving the country, with this ban lasting up to 5 years.
Elchin Sadigov, Aynur Elgunesh’s lawyer, reported that “on December 6, police raided the journalist’s apartment, seized her computer and other personal belongings, and used force.”
“In court, Aynur stated that they are being persecuted for their investigations and critical materials published by Meydan TV. She also wrote in the protocol that she is a journalist, and journalism is not a crime,” he said.
Agil Layij, Aysel Umudova’s lawyer, called the court’s decision “unfounded and illegal.”
“Aysel is in poor health. She required emergency medical assistance both when she was detained at the Baku City Police Department and at the temporary detention facility of the Khatai District Police Department.
We don’t know what smuggling they are referring to in Aysel Umudova’s case. She noted that her exit from the country was banned for a long time, and smuggling could not have taken place during that period. After the ban was lifted, she filled out a customs declaration every time she traveled abroad for educational purposes to avoid similar accusations in the future. Aysel knew that practicing journalism in Azerbaijan was dangerous. Moreover, she was subjected to strict checks every time she passed through customs,” Layij said.
The lawyers for the other detainees also highlighted the lack of grounds and primary evidence for the detention measures against their clients.
Each journalist emphasized that their arrest is related to their professional activities.
According to Bahruz Bayramov, the lawyer for Ulvi Tahirov, his client has no connection to Meydan TV.
“They were simply family friends with Aynur Elgunesh. During a search of Tahirov’s home, a large sum of money was seized. However, Tahirov stated that the money belongs to his wife, as a taxpayer. She has service contracts and receives a salary for work performed. Tahirov himself has not traveled abroad since 2022.”
On December 6, independent journalist Ramin Deko was detained at the airport while returning to Azerbaijan from Georgia. At the same time, Meydan TV employees Aynur Elgunesh, Khayala Agayeva, Aytaj Tapdig, Aysel Umudova, and Natig Javadli were arrested at their homes. Soon after, it was revealed that a criminal case had been opened against them on charges of smuggling.
The initial statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that Ramin Jabrailzade (Deko) was detained on suspicion of currency smuggling. It was also noted that several other people had been arrested, suspected of conspiring with him.
In the following hours, it was reported that, in addition to Ramin Deko and the five Meydan TV employees, several other individuals had been detained. On December 7, Orkhan Mammad, the editor of Meydan TV’s website, who resides in Germany, published a list of these people.
“Among the detainees are independent photojournalist Ahmad Mukhtar, media representative Ulvi Tahirov, sports journalist Rashad Ergun, animal rights activist Kamran Mammadli, and relatives of the detained journalists, Elnur Jabrailzade and Yunis Rzayev,” Orkhan Mammad wrote on social media.
Photojournalist Ahmad Mukhtar was charged under Articles 510 (minor hooliganism, similar to disorder conduct) and 535 (willful disobedience to a lawful police order) of the Code of Administrative Offenses and was sentenced to 20 days of administrative detention on December 8.
Yunis Rzayev, Kamran Mammadli, Rashad Ergun, and Elnur Jabrailzade were released from the Baku City Police Department one day after their detention.
