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.
Meydan TV journalists detained
The Azerbaijani online outlet Meydan TV reported on December 6 that six of its staff members were detained in Baku. Searches were conducted in the homes of several of them. The detentions were reportedly linked to allegations of illegal import of foreign currency into Azerbaijan. Meydan TV has protested against the actions.
Statement from Meydan TV
“Around 1:00 PM, contact was lost with several Meydan TV staff members. Later, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the following journalists were brought to the Baku City Police Department:
- Aynur Ganbarova
- Aytaj Akhmedova
- Hayala Agayeva
- Natig Javadli
- Aysel Umudova
- Ramin Jabrayilzade (independent journalist)
Searches were conducted in the homes of some of them, with their equipment and personal belongings confiscated.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, independent journalist Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deco) was detained on charges related to the illegal import of foreign currency into the country. Several others were also detained as part of this investigation.
Meydan TV’s management has declared the detentions and interrogations of the journalists unlawful and denies all accusations.
“Since the beginning of our operations, our journalists have faced arrests, harassment, various forms of pressure, and threats. Journalists collaborating with us have been unlawfully banned from leaving the country.
Our website has been officially blocked in Azerbaijan since 2017. Our social media accounts have been subjected to cyberattacks multiple times, resulting in the deletion of information and materials.
Since its inception, Meydan TV has strived to provide proper coverage of events in the country, address citizens’ issues, and share their grievances and appeals.
Our mission is to establish independent and alternative media in the country and keep people informed. The pressure and accusations leveled against us since our founding are baseless. We reiterate that we will continue our journalistic work,” stated Meydan TV leadership.
During the trial of Ali Karimli, the chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP), 12 party members were detained. Four of them – Elchin Hacivelli, Rovshan Asparov, Bakhtiyar Huseynov, and Mikayil Ismailov – were brought before the Nasimi District Court.
According to a statement from the party, these individuals were subjected to physical abuse while in police custody, with one reporting injuries such as a torn nail. Ali Karimli’s bodyguard, Ruslan Amirov, was also reportedly beaten, though his current whereabouts are unknown. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet commented on the situation.
In a separate case, Ali Karimli was found guilty of defamation under Article 147.1 of the Criminal Code by the Nasimi District Court, which imposed a fine of 1,500 AZN. This decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by former AXCP member Aydin Aliyev, who had demanded a six-month prison sentence for Karimli.
Karimli has called the verdict politically motivated and has vowed to appeal. During the court proceedings, among those detained included prominent figures such as Vidadi Mirkamal and Ruslan Amirov. Some were released later, but details about the others remain unclear.
The conflict between Karimli and Aliyev dates back to 2019 when Aliyev was expelled from the party for his alleged opposition to its political course. Aliyev accused Karimli of defamation in media statements, which Karimli denied, asserting that his comments were truthful and consistent with his party’s stance.
The AXCP has described the entire legal process as a politically driven attempt to weaken the party and remove its leadership from political activity. The party’s statement claims that the government is using Aliyev, a former active member who later aligned himself with pro-government activities, as a tool to undermine Karimli and the AXCP.
The post AXCP Leader Ali Karimli Found Guilty of Defamation as Party Members Are Detained in Ongoing Political Struggle appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
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