Journalist Ulviyya Ali Denied Lawyer Access.

Ulviyya Ali

Reports indicate that journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), currently detained in connection with the Meydan TV case, has been barred from meeting with her legal counsel.

Ali's mother, Ilaha Mehmanli, informed Meydan TV that the denial stemmed from Ali's objection to a search prior to the meeting. According to Mehmanli, Ali had been searched before previous meetings with her lawyer but objected to the procedure this time.

When Ulviyya went to meet with her lawyer [on November 3], they wanted to search her again. Ulviyya objected, and they did not allow the meeting, said Mehmanli.

Ali was arrested on May 7 as part of a criminal case concerning Meydan TV. Initially charged with Article 206.3.2 (smuggling by a group in collusion), the charges in the Meydan TV case were increased on August 28, 2025.

Currently, the 12 individuals arrested in this case face accusations under Articles 192.3.2 (illegal business activity with large income), 193-1.3.1 (legalizing illegally obtained property), 193-1.3.2 (…committed in large amounts), 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group), 213.2.1 (tax evasion by an organized group), 320.1 (document forgery), and 320.2 (use of forged documents) of the Criminal Code.

Mehmanli believes the denial of access is due to bias from Elnur Ismayilov, head of the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center. She alleges Ismayilov is retaliating after Ali publicized two incidents: the denial of a birthday visit from her mother and Ali's protests within the detention center.

Mehmanli described an incident where the family was initially allowed to visit but then stopped at the door. When we asked why everyone else was allowed in without documents but we had to wait, the guard couldn't answer. She stated that she was only able to meet with Ali after waiting a total of 80 minutes.

The Penitentiary Service has not yet commented on Mehmanli's statements.

Public activist Javid Agha also reported the incident on Facebook, stating that detention center staff attempted to search Ali on November 3 before her meeting with her lawyer, which she protested.

Before, at least, our only contact was through letters, and now they do not allow even that, wrote Agha.

Ali, prior to her arrest, had worked with Voice of America and later published reports from politically motivated trials on social media.

In December 2024, several individuals associated with Meydan TV were detained, including Aynur Elgunesh, Ramin Deko, Aysel Umudova, Aytac Tapdig, Khayala Agayeva, and Natig Javadli. Later, Shamshad Agayev, Nurlan Libre, Fatima Movlamli, and Ahmed Mukhtar were also arrested in connection with the Meydan TV case. The primary accusation against them is smuggling, which all deny.

Relatives of Ali maintain that the search objection was the reason for the denial of access to her lawyer, citing a history of searches before legal meetings and accusing the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center of bias and retaliation.

As of December 2025, over 30 journalists and public activists in Azerbaijan have been arrested on smuggling charges, which they attribute to their professional activities and political motivations. Local human rights organizations estimate that over 390 political prisoners are currently held in Azerbaijani prisons. Government officials usually claim that no one is arrested for their professional activities or on political grounds, asserting that those imprisoned are held accountable for specific illegal actions.