The imprisoned journalists of Meydan TV have issued a public call on the occasion of May 3 – World Press Freedom Day. Below is the statement as it was released:
“May 3 is World Press Freedom Day. We mark this day behind barbed wire, calling out to our country and the international community from within closed prison cells: through our existence and our work, we continue to defy all oppressive regimes. Those who think they have silenced us by putting us in prison are unaware of the liberating power of imprisonment. We have no more fear. Despite being imprisoned, our voice will be louder and be heard more often.
The years-long crackdown by the country’s authorities on independent media has finally achieved its goal: there is now no free press remaining in Azerbaijan. Independent journalists have been jailed, and foreign media outlets have been shut down. As a result, what’s left is pocket media that operates under the directives of the Presidential Administration. The situation is so dire that even the reports journalists prepare from courtrooms are published only after being edited by officers of the State Security Service. Positioning themselves as “national media”, “Baku TV” and “Real TV” choose the language of threats and exposure. The same page publishes news about the persecution and arrests of representatives of civil society.
The investigation materials are easily reproduced. Indeed, these media outlets are now clearly serving as instruments of the government. The destruction of independent media, whose purpose and mission is to act as a bridge between the public and the government, to promote transparency and hold power to account, has left the people in direct confrontation with the state. Although local media may be permitted to cover domestic issues like gas or roads, the arbitrariness of law enforcement agencies and the incompetence of the judicial system are ignored. The government, which hides its injustices under the rug, has yet to realize that it will one day suffocate from its own filth. Ilham Aliyev, confident in his authority and unwilling to accept this reality, overlooks the fact that fear cannot suppress the people’s voice, and that silence, however prolonged, does not equate to consent or stability. The destruction of independent media — the foundation of democracy — and the mass imprisonment of journalists is a direct “Shut up” message to the people of Azerbaijan. This crime is being committed against all of us. The people of Azerbaijan, deprived of their rights and disregarded, must be aware that there are journalists resisting from prison to uncover the truth and expose the regime’s corruption and illegality.
We, prisoners of those who have stolen freedom of expression, call on international organizations and defenders of free speech: do not turn a blind eye to the suppression of expression in a world already shaken by wars. If you do, the circle of societies crushed by dictators will only grow! We, the journalists, who are visible behind nearly every “well-organized” pretrial detention center, demand the freedom that is rightfully ours!”
On December 6, 2024, Meydan TV employees Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzade), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunash), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig), Khayala Aghayeva, and Natig Javadli were detained. They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons in prior collusion).
On the same day, Ulvi Tahirov, a member of civil society, was also arrested. He is not affiliated with Meydan TV.
On February 5, 2025, Shamshad Aghayev (Agha), editor-in-chief of the website arqument.az and a journalist collaborating with Meydan TV, was also arrested.
On February 20, journalist Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli) was subjected to pre-trial detention in connection with the same case.
Fatima Movlamli was also arrested on February 28 in connection with the Meydan TV-related case.
Searches were carried out in the homes of the detained journalists, and their phones, computers, and other personal belongings were confiscated.
The arrested journalists deny all charges and claim they are being punished for their critical journalism.
Currently, around 30 journalists and civil society activists are imprisoned under similar accusations. They all reject the charges and link their arrests to their professional activities. Government officials continue to deny that any of these arrests are politically motivated.
International human rights organizations and Western officials have also called on the Azerbaijani government to release those who are unjustly imprisoned.
