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Meydan TV Case: Trial to Start Soon

  • IHR
  • 8 hours ago
  • 1 min read
The trial of 12 Meydan TV journalists on severe charges—including money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal business—begins Dec 12 in Baku. Facing politically motivated charges for their independent reporting, this case highlights a critical threat to press freedom in Azerbaijan. Follow the details and specific charges in the full report.

The Meydan TV case, which involves the arrest of 12 journalists and media workers in Azerbaijan, is heading to court. The first hearing is scheduled for December 12 at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Judge Aytan Aliyeva and her team will be in charge of the proceedings.


Who's Involved?


Twelve people are facing charges in this case. The first arrests happened on December 6, 2024. Those arrested included Meydan TV staff members Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunash), Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdiq), Khayala Aghayeva, Aysel Umudova, Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko), Natiq Cavadli, and Ulvi Tahirov, who is the Deputy Director of the Baku School of Journalism.

In the months that followed, four more journalists were arrested: Shamshad Aghayev (Agha, editor of Arqument.az and contributor to Meydan TV), freelance journalists Nurlan Gahramanli (Libre) and Fatima Movlamli, Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), and photojournalist Ahmad Mukhtar.


What Are the Charges?


The journalists were initially accused of smuggling. Later, on August 28, 2025, the charges became more serious. The 12 defendants are now facing accusations that include offenses allegedly committed by an organized group. The charges fall under various articles of the Criminal Code:

  • Illegal Business Activities (Articles 192.2.2, 192.2.3 – large-scale, by an organized group)

  • Laundering Illegally Obtained Funds (Articles 193-1.3.1, 193-1.3.2 – money laundering, a good sum of money, by an organized group)

  • Smuggling (Article 206.4 – by an organized group)

  • Tax Evasion (Article 213.2.1 – by an organized group)

  • Falsifying Documents and Using Fakes (Articles 320.1, 320.2)


What Do the Journalists Say?


All of the journalists who have been arrested say they are innocent. They claim that the charges are politically motivated and are a result of their work as journalists.

 
 
 

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