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In a significant event for press freedom, a trial involving twelve journalists has commenced in Baku, Azerbaijan. This case has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights advocates, who assert that the legal actions against these individuals are politically charged rather than based on legitimate concerns.
The situation escalated on December 6, 2025, when authorities executed a series of arrests, accusing several journalists of illegal currency smuggling. Among those detained were six members of the independent news outlet Meydan TV: Aynur Gambarova, Aytaj Akhmedova, Khayal Agaev, Aysel Umudova, Ramin Jabrayilzade, and Natik Javadly. On the same day, Ulvi Tahirov, deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism, was also taken into custody.
The expansion of the investigation
As the investigation progressed, it expanded to include additional journalists in February 2025. Shamshad Agaev, editor-in-chief of arqument.az, along with freelance writers Nurlan Gahramanli and Fatima Movlamly, were apprehended. The situation escalated further in May with the arrest of Ulviyya Ali, a former correspondent for Voice of America, and in August, freelance photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar was also detained.
Initially, authorities focused their accusations on smuggling foreign currency, alleging a coordinated effort among the journalists. However, by August, the investigation evolved, leading Baku police to introduce supplementary charges. The defendants now face prosecution under eight distinct articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, forgery, and money laundering. Convictions could result in severe penalties, with sentences reaching up to twelve years.
Defense efforts and international reactions
All twelve journalists have vehemently denied the allegations, maintaining that the charges stem from their journalistic endeavors and are politically motivated. During the preliminary hearing on December 15, the court dismissed most motions put forth by the defense, including requests for filming the proceedings, changing pretrial detention to house arrest, and dismissing the case on rehabilitative grounds.
Furthermore, defense attorneys expressed concern regarding their limited access to case materials, claiming they were not provided adequate time to review the documents. These procedural shortcomings have raised eyebrows among observers who advocate for fair trial standards.
Calls for action from press freedom organizations
In light of these developments, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Azerbaijani authorities to release the detained journalists and others facing government repression. Their report highlights that at least twenty-four journalists currently remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan due to their professional activities.
In a related case, six journalists from another investigative outlet, Abzas Media, were convicted in June 2025 on similar financial charges, receiving sentences ranging from seven and a half to nine years. Such incidents underscore the troubling climate for independent journalism in Azerbaijan.
The role and history of Meydan TV
Founded in 2013 by Azerbaijani human rights defender Emin Milli, Meydan TV has emerged as a critical voice in the region. Based in Berlin, the outlet produces content in Azerbaijani, Russian, and English, focusing on investigations into corruption and human rights violations within Azerbaijan.
However, the outlet’s operations have faced significant obstacles. In May 2017, the Azerbaijani government blocked access to the Meydan TV website. This crackdown on press freedom was highlighted by the abduction of one of its journalists, Afgan Mukhtarli, in Tbilisi, Georgia. He was forcibly taken to Azerbaijan, where he received a six-year sentence on charges of smuggling and illegal border crossing. Following international pressure, Mukhtarli was eventually released and deported to Germany in 2025.
The situation escalated on December 6, 2025, when authorities executed a series of arrests, accusing several journalists of illegal currency smuggling. Among those detained were six members of the independent news outlet Meydan TV: Aynur Gambarova, Aytaj Akhmedova, Khayal Agaev, Aysel Umudova, Ramin Jabrayilzade, and Natik Javadly. On the same day, Ulvi Tahirov, deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism, was also taken into custody.0