That’s how it looks Hans @HansGutbrod … There is no strategy – only sayings from Europe. 👀 And now the politicians are realising that they have been messing things up for years. Then there is this visa discussion… Pathetic! https://t.co/PsE8I2YtDZ
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 7, 2024
Day: December 6, 2024
On Friday, 6 December 2024, beginning around 1pm Baku local time, our newsroom lost contact with a number of individuals, some of whom who collaborate with Meydan TV.
While trying to reestablish contact, we learned that these individuals are currently being held at the Baku City Police Department. They are the following:
Khayala Agayeva / Xəyalə Ağayeva
Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig) / Aytac Əhmədova (Tapdıq)
Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh) / Aynur Qənbərova (Elgünəş)
Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko) (independent journalist) / Ramin Cəbrayılzadə
Natig Javadli / Natiq Cavadlı
Aysel Umudova
The homes of some of the journalists named above were searched, and personal equipment and some of their belongings were seized.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ramin Jabrailzade (Deko) was detained based on information received regarding the illegal import of foreign currency into the country. In addition, several individuals were detained as part of the investigation. Ramin Deko works as an independent journalist and reporter.
We as the management of Meydan TV, firmly state that the detention and interrogation of our journalists is illegal, and we refute all accusations.
Since the day we started our activities over a decade ago, our brave journalists have been arrested, and they and their families have been subjected to persecution. Journalists who cooperate with us have been illegally banned from leaving the country, and have been surveilled by Pegasus spyware, among other forms of pressure.
Our website has been officially banned within the country’s borders since 2017, and Oor social media channels have repeatedly been subjected to cyberattacks.
Despite these attempts to silence us, we at Meydan TV have continued our work as journalists, publicized the events taking place in the country and the problems of ordinary citizens, and have done this all free of censorship.
Our goal has always been to be an independent and alternative media organization in Azerbaijan, informing our audience daily. The pressures and accusations against us since our establishment are groundless, and these novel attacks will neither silence us nor stop our work.
The post Meydan TV’s statement regarding latest arrests of journalists appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
Independent journalist Ramin Deko and Meydan TV employees Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh), Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig), Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli, and Aysel Umudova were detained on December 6 on suspicion of “smuggling.”
Their lawyers reported that the journalists were detained as part of a criminal investigation launched under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, which involves smuggling committed by a group acting in prior collusion. The journalists have been formally charged.
Nazim Musayev, the lawyer for journalist Khayala Agayeva, said that Aghayeva denied the allegations and said that she was arrested due to her journalistic activities.
Independent journalist Ramin Deko was detained around noon Baku local time. Afterwards, contact was lost to journalists Aynur Elgunesh, Natig Javadli, Khayala Agayeva, Aytac Tapdig, and Aysel Umudova.
Aynur Elgunesh, Natig Javadli, Aytaj Ahmadova, Aysel Umudova, Ramin Jabrayilzade, Khayala Aghayeva. Photo: Meydan TV
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) issued a statement saying that Ramin Jabrailzade (Deko) was detained by police based on information received regarding the illegal import of foreign currency into the country. Several individuals were detained as part of the investigation.
Authorities searched the homes of most of the detained journalists, confiscating their equipment and personal belongings.
Reports indicate that individuals unrelated to the “Meydan TV case” have also been detained, with at least 13 people in custody.
Since November of last year, dozens of journalists in Azerbaijan have been arrested on charges of “smuggling.” Both local and international human rights organizations have condemned these charges as fabricated and are calling for the immediate release of the detained journalists.
The post Azerbaijani independent journalists accused of “smuggling” appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
On Friday, 6 December 2024, beginning around 1pm Baku local time, our newsroom lost contact with a number of individuals, some of whom who collaborate with Meydan TV.
While trying to reestablish contact, we learned that these individuals are currently being held at the Baku City Police Department. They are the following:
Khayala Agayeva / Xəyalə Ağayeva
Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig) / Aytac Əhmədova (Tapdıq)
Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh) / Aynur Qənbərova (Elgünəş)
Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko) (independent journalist) / Ramin Cəbrayılzadə
Natig Javadli / Natiq Cavadlı
Aysel Umudova
The homes of some of the journalists named above were searched, and personal equipment and some of their belongings were seized.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ramin Jabrailzade (Deko) was detained based on information received regarding the illegal import of foreign currency into the country. In addition, several individuals were detained as part of the investigation. Ramin Deko works as an independent journalist and reporter.
We as the management of Meydan TV, firmly state that the detention and interrogation of our journalists is illegal, and we refute all accusations.
Since the day we started our activities over a decade ago, our brave journalists have been arrested, and they and their families have been subjected to persecution. Journalists who cooperate with us have been illegally banned from leaving the country, and have been surveilled by Pegasus spyware, among other forms of pressure.
Our website has been officially banned within the country’s borders since 2017, and Oor social media channels have repeatedly been subjected to cyberattacks.
Despite these attempts to silence us, we at Meydan TV have continued our work as journalists, publicized the events taking place in the country and the problems of ordinary citizens, and have done this all free of censorship.
Our goal has always been to be an independent and alternative media organization in Azerbaijan, informing our audience daily. The pressures and accusations against us since our establishment are groundless, and these novel attacks will neither silence us nor stop our work.
The post Meydan TV’s statement regarding latest arrests of journalists appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
On Friday, 6 December 2024, beginning around 1pm Baku local time, our newsroom lost contact with a number of individuals, some of whom who collaborate with Meydan TV.
While trying to reestablish contact, we learned that these individuals are currently being held at the Baku City Police Department. They are the following:
Khayala Agayeva / Xəyalə Ağayeva
Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig) / Aytac Əhmədova (Tapdıq)
Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh) / Aynur Qənbərova (Elgünəş)
Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko) (independent journalist) / Ramin Cəbrayılzadə
Natig Javadli / Natiq Cavadlı
Aysel Umudova
The homes of some of the journalists named above were searched, and personal equipment and some of their belongings were seized.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ramin Jabrailzade (Deko) was detained based on information received regarding the illegal import of foreign currency into the country. In addition, several individuals were detained as part of the investigation. Ramin Deko works as an independent journalist and reporter.
We as the management of Meydan TV, firmly state that the detention and interrogation of our journalists is illegal, and we refute all accusations.
Since the day we started our activities over a decade ago, our brave journalists have been arrested, and they and their families have been subjected to persecution. Journalists who cooperate with us have been illegally banned from leaving the country, and have been surveilled by Pegasus spyware, among other forms of pressure.
Our website has been officially banned within the country’s borders since 2017, and Oor social media channels have repeatedly been subjected to cyberattacks.
Despite these attempts to silence us, we at Meydan TV have continued our work as journalists, publicized the events taking place in the country and the problems of ordinary citizens, and have done this all free of censorship.
Our goal has always been to be an independent and alternative media organization in Azerbaijan, informing our audience daily. The pressures and accusations against us since our establishment are groundless, and these novel attacks will neither silence us nor stop our work.
The post Meydan TV’s statement regarding latest arrests of journalists appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.