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Trial begins in Meydan TV case

A preparatory hearing was held at Baku’s Serious Crimes Court in the criminal case related to Meydan TV.

During the session, numerous motions were submitted concerning the conditions of detention for the accused, the holding of an open trial, changes to pre-trial detention, and other issues. The court rejected the majority of the motions.

On 6 December 2024, Meydan TV staff members Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzade), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgyunesh), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmedova (Tapdyg), Khayal Agaeva, and Natik Javadly were detained. They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons by prior agreement), and the case against them became known as the “Meydan TV case.” Subsequently, journalists Shamshad Aga, Nurlan Libre, Fatima Movlamly, Ulviya Ali, and Ahmed Mukhtar were also arrested in connection with the case.

In August this year, the charges against the journalists were intensified, with new articles added to the case.

Meydan TV says the arrests are linked to its critical reporting.

At the start of the trial, the lawyers raised objections after staff from the Penitentiary Service closed off the front of the glass enclosure holding the defendants. The defence argued that this blocked transparency in the proceedings.

The judge instructed the Penitentiary Service officers to step back from the front of the enclosure, leaving only a small number of guards. After this, those in the courtroom were able to see the defendants clearly.

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Personal details and statements

The hearing continued with a review of the defendants’ personal details.

Journalist Aytaj Tapdyg said she had worked at Meydan TV for over ten years and had produced numerous video reports. Addressing the judge, she asked that these facts be taken into account when reaching a decision.

“This is how we will punish you for everything you have done,” Tapdyg declared.

Journalist Natik Javadly began his statement by saying, “First of all, I want to greet the distinguished Azerbaijani intellectual Jamil Hasanly present in this courtroom.” His words were met with applause. He then reminded the court of his name and surname, as well as an award he received in 2009, and said he was proud of his work at Meydan TV.

Journalist Aysel Umudova, responding to a question about her current place of residence, stated:

“I have been held in Baku pre-trial detention for a year.”

Rejection of state-appointed lawyers

After their personal details were reviewed, the defendants were asked whether they wished to reject state-appointed lawyers. All 12 defendants in the case said they had chosen their own legal representatives and declined the services of state-appointed attorneys.

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Motions: request for an open trial and release

The defence lawyers submitted a series of motions. Lawyer Zibeida Sadygova requested that the defendants be taken out of the glass enclosure and seated next to their lawyers. The judge noted that this might be allowed in future hearings.

“Furthermore, many trials are being conducted in the country where filming is allowed. Considering that the defendants are media professionals and public figures, that the trial is of public interest, and taking into account other proceedings where filming is permitted, I request that journalists be admitted to the courtroom and that filming be allowed,” Sadygova’s motion states.

Lawyer Ulviya Ali supported the motion, saying his client loves her country and does not want its image to be harmed, and therefore favours courtroom filming and its dissemination.

The state prosecutor responded that no journalist had formally requested filming in court so far. At this point, Nurlan Libre interrupted, asking:

“Which journalists are still free? You have imprisoned them all.”

The motion was ultimately rejected.

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Motions were also submitted to terminate the criminal case on rehabilitative grounds, to release the defendants, or to change the measure of restraint to house arrest. None of these requests were granted.

Aynur Elgyunesh, speaking in support of a motion, presented a “six-month observation” document issued following a court request from the State Security Service concerning her.

“I was arrested shortly before the end of this six-month period, and this document is proof that my arrest is political in nature,” Elgyunesh said.

She requested that the document be added to the case file and submitted it to the court.

Elgyunesh also noted in her statement that her social card had been blocked.

“What does smuggling have to do with a government benefit? I demand that my card be unblocked.”

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Request to review the case materials

Lawyer Elchin Sadigov, representing Aynur Elgyunesh and Natik Javadly, told the court that while the defence lawyers had reviewed the final indictment, they had not been given a copy of the document. In addition, the lawyers were allowed extremely limited time to examine the case, and they had not been able to review 30 discs and several flash drives included in the case materials.

In response, Sadigov filed a motion requesting that the case not be accepted for trial, that the preparatory hearing be postponed, and that the defence be given sufficient time and conditions to review the case materials that had previously not been provided.

This motion, like the previous ones, was also rejected.

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Partially granted motions

The court granted some of the motions. A request to lift the ban on Aytaj Tapdyg meeting her fiancé and getting married was approved.

It was also decided to transfer Natik Javadly, Ramin Deko, and Ulvi Tahirov from pre-trial detention facility No. 3 in Shuvelyan to Baku pre-trial detention facility No. 1.