Toplum TV: Azerbaijan activists condemn 'one-man rule' as trial nears end

Three jailed Azerbaijani activists have condemned President Ilham Aliyev's "one-man system" during their final courtroom speeches in Baku, as a controversial media trial nears its conclusion.

The defendants, associated with the independent online channel Toplum TV, are among nine people facing up to 16 years in prison on charges including smuggling and tax evasion. They deny all charges, calling them politically motivated.

Akif Qurbanov, speaker of the opposition Third Republic Platform, told the Baku Grave Crimes Court on Monday that Aliyev’s administration automatically represses those who oppose his rule.

"He says himself that he knows what to do and when to do it," Qurbanov said, adding that his prosecution was direct punishment for his political activities.

Qurbanov presented tax documents to the court which he said proved that his family's legitimate income exceeded the amounts listed in the state's indictment. He questioned why younger, junior staff at Toplum TV had been targeted if the state's true aim was to suppress political opponents like himself.

Another defendant, Ruslan Izzatli, described the legal proceedings as a "farce" and addressed his statement as a letter to his young son.

Izzatli accused the government of using "sticks and violence" to silence independent thinkers, saying, "fear rules a society where intellectuals are destroyed."

Journalist Farid Ismayilov also addressed the court, stating he had no expectation of a fair verdict. He said that €3,200 (£2,700) in cash, which prosecutors claim was found at his home, had been planted by police officers conducting the search.

Ismayilov also criticised the panel of judges, noting that they had previously handed down lengthy prison sentences to other political figures, including opposition activist Tofig Yagublu, without sufficient evidence.

The Toplum TV case began in March 2024 with a series of police raids and arrests targeting independent journalists and civil society figures. Prosecutors have demanded sentences of between 13 and 16 years for the nine defendants.

Since November 2023, more than 30 journalists and activists have been detained in Azerbaijan. Local human rights groups estimate that the country currently holds 328 political prisoners.

Azerbaijani authorities deny that anyone is targeted for political reasons or for their professional journalistic work, insisting that the country's legal system is independent and safeguards fundamental rights. Aliyev’s office has not commented on the courtroom criticisms.

Qurbanov's final statement was cut short due to time limits and is scheduled to resume when the trial reconvenes on 20 July.