Aynur Elgunesh, the editor-in-chief of Meydan TV who has been in detention for nearly two years, has been transferred to the Penitentiary Service’s Medical Facility due to a deterioration in her health.
Lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova announced the transfer on 18 October. She recalled that the journalist has serious health problems and said that the greatest current risk concerns her kidney.
“Aynur Elgunesh has serious health problems and has undergone surgery 17 times. She was preparing for another operation even before her arrest. The greatest current risk, however, concerns her kidney,” Zibeyda Sadigova said.
According to information previously shared by Aynur Elgunesh’s relatives, the journalist’s condition deteriorated further on 14 October at Baku Pre-Trial Detention Centre, where she was being held. Her blood pressure reportedly rose to 150/80, her face turned yellowish, she experienced tightness in the diaphragm area, and she had difficulty breathing.
Twelve people are facing charges in the “Meydan TV case.” On 6 December 2024, Meydan TV editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunesh, journalists Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzade), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Tapdig, Khayala Aghayeva and Natig Javadli, as well as civil society activist Ulvi Tahirov, were detained. Meydan TV editor Shamshad Agha was arrested later. Journalists Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli), Fatima Movlamli and Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), as well as photographer Ahmad Mukhtar, were subsequently arrested in connection with the “Meydan TV case.”
They face charges under several articles of the Criminal Code, primarily related to smuggling. The journalists deny the charges and say they have been arrested because of their professional activities.
