Aytaс Tapdig's Arrest Extended for Another Three Months

Aytaс Tapdig

On September 22, the Khatay District Court of Baku granted the investigative body's request to extend the pre-trial detention of Meydan TV journalist Aytaj Ahmadova for another three months.

According to the court's decision, the journalist must remain in custody until January 6, 2026.

The defense considered the court's decision unfounded, as the investigation failed to present reliable primary evidence of the journalist's guilt, and intends to file an appeal.

Previously, on September 20, the court extended the pre-trial detention of five other defendants in the case—Aynur Elgyunesh, Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli, Aysel Umudova, and Ramin Deko—for another three months.

The case was initiated in December 2024, when Meydan TV employees Aynur Elgyunesh, Aytaс Tapdig, Khayala Agayeva, Aysel Umudova, Natig Javadli, as well as freelance journalist Ramin Deko and media expert Ulvi Tairov were detained, and subsequently arrested and charged with currency smuggling by a group of individuals in a preliminary conspiracy.

Subsequently, journalists Fatima Movlamli, Nurlan Gahramanli, Shamshad Aga, Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), and Ahmad Mukhtar were also arrested in the same case. During the investigation, all defendants were also charged with an additional seven articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan in addition to smuggling. They linked the criminal case to their professional activities.