Azerbaijan trial of 12 independent journalists restarts under new judges

The trial of 12 Azerbaijani journalists linked to the independent outlet Meydan TV has restarted under a new panel of judges after the previous presiding judge was promoted.

Presiding judge Zaur Hajiyev took over the case at the Baku Grave Crimes Court on 3 July, replacing Ayten Aliyeva, who was recently appointed to the Baku Court of Appeal. A new prosecutor, Vusal Abdullayev, was also appointed to lead the state's case.

At the hearing, defence lawyers made unsuccessful bids for the journalists to be released under house arrest while the trial is ongoing.

Among those detained is Meydan TV editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunesh. Her lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, told the court that Ms Elgunesh is disabled and has severe health issues, having undergone 17 surgeries.

The court also rejected a request to transfer journalist Ulviyya Ali to a private clinic for medical scans, which her lawyer argued are unavailable in prison facilities.

The 12 journalists were arrested in waves starting in December 2024. They face multiple charges, including smuggling and tax evasion, which carry prison sentences of up to 12 years. They deny all the charges, calling them politically motivated.

During the hearing, photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar testified that he had never worked for Meydan TV. He said he was arrested simply for carrying €7,000 (£5,850) from Georgia as a favour for Ms Elgunesh, a long-time friend.

Mukhtar, who was named Azerbaijan's photographer of the year in 2020, told the court his photos of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war had been widely published by international agencies, including the Associated Press.

Another defendant, Ramin Deko, questioned why customs officials recorded that he was carrying €38,000 when he returned from Tbilisi in late 2024.

"I had €8,000 on me," Deko told the court. "I don't know how it turned into €38,000."

The court session was also marked by a verbal clash between defendant Fatma Movlamli and the new prosecutor, after she addressed him as "Vusal Bey" (Mr Vusal). Mr Abdullayev demanded to be addressed as "Mr Prosecutor", leading another defendant, Shamshad Aga, to accuse the prosecution of violating legal procedures.

The prosecution of the Meydan TV journalists is part of a broader crackdown in Azerbaijan, where more than 30 journalists and civil society activists have been detained since late 2023. Azerbaijani authorities deny that any journalists are targeted for their professional work.

The trial is scheduled to continue on 24 July.