The composition of the court in the Meydan TV case has been changed.
As lawyers told Meydan TV, it was initially planned to replace only the presiding judge, but it was later decided to replace all three judges.
Zaur Hajiyev has been appointed as the presiding judge in the case. The judicial panel also includes judges Azer Taghiyev and Roman Alekberli.
Judge Aytan Aliyeva, who had previously presided over the proceedings in the Meydan TV case, was appointed as a judge of the Baku Court of Appeal on May 26.
Lawyer Nemat Kerimli, who represents journalist Ramin Deko Jabrayilzade, says that under the law, if an alternate judge is replaced, the new judge reviews the case record (minutes of the proceedings), after which the trial continues:
“The law does not provide for all three judges to be replaced at the same time. In that case, the court proceedings will have to start over.”
Lawyer Rovshana Rahimli, who represents journalist Aysel Umudova, also believes that in such a situation, the proceedings may start over.
“Previously, the associate judges remained on the panel, but now all three judges have been replaced. If all three have indeed been replaced, there is a possibility that the trial will start over. We will object to restarting the proceedings and will demand that the judges familiarize themselves with the case record,” said Rovshana Rahimli.
The most recent court hearing in the “Meydan TV case” took place on April 13. After that, scheduled hearings were postponed by the judges for various reasons.
At the hearing on May 22, journalist Khayala Agayeva, who is under arrest in this case, mentioned the name of Heydar Aliyev — the son of Ilham Aliyev — during her final statement. After that, the judges interrupted her several times. They did not allow the journalist to complete her speech and left the courtroom.
The first court hearing in the “Meydan TV case” began on December 12, 2025.
On December 6, 2024, Meydan TV staff members Ramin Deko Jabrayilzade, Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmedova (Tapdig), Khayala Aghayeva, Natig Javadli, as well as civil society representative Ulvi Tahirov, were arrested.
Those detained in the case were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan — smuggling committed by a group of persons in prior conspiracy.
On February 5, 2025, the editor-in-chief of the website arqument.az, journalist Shamshad Aghayev, who cooperated with Meydan TV, was arrested in the case. Later, other journalists were also arrested: on February 20 — Nurlan Gahramanli; on February 28 — Fatima Movlamli; on May 7 — Ulviyya Ali; and on August 27 — Ahmed Mukhtar.
On August 28, the charges in the “Meydan TV case” were tightened. In total, the defendants in the case were charged under seven articles of the Criminal Code.
The arrested journalists do not admit the charges brought against them. They say their prosecution is politically motivated and that the aim of the arrests is to suppress independent media and free voices in the country.
