Azerbaijan court indefinitely delays trial of independent journalists

A court in Azerbaijan's capital Baku has indefinitely postponed the trial of independent journalists from Meydan TV after the presiding judge was promoted to a higher court.

The trial at the Baku Grave Crimes Court on 5 June was delayed because a replacement has not yet been appointed for Judge Ayten Aliyeva, who was named to the Baku Court of Appeal last month.

Defence lawyer Rovshana Rahimli told Meydan TV that the lack of a new presiding judge was the sole reason for the latest postponement.

The proceedings have been plagued by delays since the last full hearing on 13 April, with judges repeatedly postponing sessions.

Tensions escalated during a hearing on 22 May when imprisoned journalist Khayala Agayeva was interrupted by judges while giving her statement.

Agayeva had mentioned Heydar Aliyev, the son of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, before the judicial panel cut her off and left the courtroom.

In response, journalists in the public gallery chanted "cowards" and threatened to go on a "dry" hunger strike if defendants' testimonies continue to be interrupted.

Lawyers say the replacement of a judge could significantly disrupt the legal process.

Legal expert Ruslan Aliyev said that while a new judge might request time to study the case, the law usually allows a departing judge to conclude active cases.

Cutting off speeches is common in political cases," Aliyev said. "This is not only a procedural violation but also an interference with freedom of expression."

Another defence lawyer, Javad Javadov, warned that the entire trial may have to restart from the beginning if all three members of the judicial panel are replaced.

The trial involves more than a dozen journalists and civil society figures arrested in a sweeping crackdown between December 2024 and August 2025.

Seven defendants, including journalists Ramin Deko and Aynur Ganbarova, were initially detained in December 2024 on charges of smuggling.

The prosecution subsequently arrested several more reporters, including Shamshad Agayev and Fatima Movlamli, before upgrading the charges in August 2025 to encompass seven different criminal offences.

All of the accused deny the charges, maintaining that the prosecution is a politically motivated campaign to silence the country's remaining independent voices.