Meydan TV journalists' trial postponed indefinitely after judge promoted

An Azerbaijani court has indefinitely postponed the trial of a group of independent journalists and activists linked to the media outlet Meydan TV, following the promotion of the presiding judge.

The Baku Grave Crimes Court on 5 June delayed the hearing, which has faced a series of disruptions in recent weeks. Defence lawyer Rovshana Rahimli told Meydan TV that the delay was due to the failure to appoint a replacement for the former presiding judge, Ayten Aliyeva, who was appointed to the Baku Court of Appeal on 26 May.

Tensions in the trial escalated during a hearing on 22 May when one of the detained journalists, Khayala Agayeva, was repeatedly interrupted by judges during her testimony.

The panel of judges stopped her speech and walked out of the courtroom after she mentioned Heydar Aliyev, the son of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

In response, journalists in the courtroom chanted "Cowards" and threatened to launch a dry hunger strike if their testimonies were cut short again.

Legal experts say the procedural delays and the judges' conduct raise serious human rights concerns. Lawyer Ruslan Aliyev said interrupting defendants' speeches is a common tactic in politically sensitive cases.

Interrupting speeches is not only a procedural violation but also an interference with freedom of expression," he said.

Another defence lawyer, Cavad Cavadov, noted that if the entire three-judge panel is replaced, the trial may have to start from the beginning. If only the presiding judge is replaced, the trial can continue from where it left off, provided the defendants do not object.

The case dates back to 6 December 2024, when Azerbaijani authorities arrested seven journalists and civil society members, including Ramin Deko, Aynur Ganbarova, and Natiq Javadli. They were initially accused of smuggling by a group of individuals.

The crackdown continued into 2025 with further arrests, including the editor-in-chief of the Argument.az website, Shamshad Agayev, and several other independent journalists. By August 2025, prosecutors had upgraded the charges, accusing the defendants under seven different articles of the criminal code.

The journalists deny all allegations, maintaining that the charges are politically motivated and designed to silence independent journalism and critical voices in Azerbaijan.