Meydan TV— Independent Media Outlet Hit with Arrests
Authorities in Azerbaijan have intensified their crackdown on independent media, targeting one of the last remaining outlets, Meydan TV, as part of a broader campaign that began in November 2023. Since late 2023, over 20 journalists, media workers and representatives of civil society have been arrested, including staff from Abzas Media, Toplum TV, Meclis.info, Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, Institute for Democratic Initiatives and others.
On December 6, at least 7 journalists and media workers were detained, with some reports suggesting up to 20 individuals were harassed or questioned. Among those detained were Meydan TV’s editor-in-chief, Aynur Elgunash, and reporters Natig Javadli, Aytaj Tapdig, Aysel Umudova, Ramin Jabrailzada, Khayala Agayeva, and the Deputy Director of Baku School of Journalism, Ulvi Tahirov. They were accused of smuggling foreign currency, a charge widely seen as politically motivated. All seven were sentenced to four months of pre-trial detention. Freelance journalist Ahmad Mukhtar, also detained in connection with the case, faced accusations of hooliganism and disobeying the police, resulting in a 30-day administrative detention on December 8. Friends and family members of the targeted journalists were also detained. Elnur Jabbarzada, Yunis Rzayev, and animal rights activist Kamran Mammadli, were all released after getting questioned by the police.
Lawyers representing the journalists said defendants’ access to legal counsel was denied or delayed. Lawyers also noted, some of the arrested journalists were subject to ill-treatment during the detention. Aynur Elgunash’s lawyer said her client was pinned against a wall and subjected to physical violence during the journalist’s house search. Other journalists reported being forced to provide statements under psychological pressure. There were signs of physical violence used against arrested journalist Ramin Jabrayilzada with multiple bruises on his face. Kamran Mammadli also told reporters he was subjected to physical abuse, showing bruises under his eyes.
Meydan TV, in a statement, denounced the arrests as illegal and as part of ongoing efforts to silence remaining independent journalism in Azerbaijani, citing years of harassment, travel bans, and surveillance against its in-country staff. The Azerbaijani authorities defended the arrests of journalists, stating that suspicions based on evidence should be investigated, regardless of the detainees’ professions.
The arrests were criticized internationally. The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the crackdown on Meydan TV journalists, urging their release and calling it a violation of human rights. International human rights organizations described the arrests as part of a broader effort to silence dissent in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, on 19 December, the European Parliament adopted a resolution citing the recent arrests targeting journalists and media workers as ongoing repressions and calling on European institutions to sanction high-ranking officials in Azerbaijan.
Latest reports by domestic human rights groups estimate there are more than 330 political prisoners currently in Azerbaijan.