On June 8, the judicial investigation in the Toplum TV case was concluded at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes.
At the hearing, chaired by Judge Azer Taghiyev, the state prosecutor addressed the court and requested prison terms of between 13 and 16 years for the defendants.
The prosecutor asked the court to sentence Akif Gurbanov, spokesperson for the Third Republic Platform, and Ruslan Izzatli, a member of the organization’s founding council, to 16 years’ imprisonment.
The prosecution requested 15-year prison sentences for Toplum TV co-founder Alasgar Mammadli and Ali Zeynalov, an employee of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives.
The prosecutor also asked the court to sentence Ramil Babayev, Ilkin Amrakhov, and Mushfig Jabbarov to 14 years’ imprisonment each, and Farid Ismayilov and Elmira Abbasova to 13 years each.
The state prosecutor also sought a ban on the defendants holding certain positions for a period of up to three years. In addition, he requested the confiscation of their vehicles and residential properties that had previously been seized by court order.
The prosecutor also asked the court to order the immediate arrest of journalist Elmir Abbasov in the courtroom. Abbasov is currently subject to a preventive measure placing him under police supervision.
The next court hearing has been scheduled for June 22.
Brief background on the Toplum TV case
The Toplum TV case began on March 6, 2024. On that day, law enforcement authorities conducted searches at the offices of the independent media outlet Toplum TV, the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, and the Third Republic Platform, as well as at the homes of several employees and activists.
Following the searches, criminal proceedings on smuggling charges were initiated against journalists and civil society activists Farid Ismayilov, Elmir Abbasov, Mushfig Jabbar, Akif Gurbanov, Ali Zeynal, Ramil Babayev, and Ilkin Amrakhov. Preventive detention was ordered for some of the defendants.
On March 8, Ruslan Izzatli, a member of the founding council of the Third Republic Platform, and Alasgar Mammadli, co-founder of Toplum TV, were placed under arrest on the same charges.
The defendants were initially charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, which concerns smuggling committed by a group of persons acting in concert by prior agreement. However, following the completion of the investigation, the charges were expanded and made more severe on January 17, 2025.
Additional charges were added to the original accusation, including employing workers without labor contracts, illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, smuggling, and tax evasion.налогов.
On the same day, January 17, journalist Farid Ismayilov was taken into custody. Prior to that, he had been under police supervision.
On February 5, Toplum TV editor Shahnaz Beylargizi was detained. The following day, a court ordered her held in pretrial detention for three months and 15 days. On February 26, that preventive measure was replaced with house arrest.
The defendants reject the charges against them and maintain that the criminal prosecution is politically motivated. Toplum TV’s management and staff view the case as pressure on independent media and an attempt to restrict freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.
The Toplum TV case is unfolding against a broader wave of persecution of independent journalists. Since November 2023, around 30 media representatives have been arrested in Azerbaijan, many of whom are associated with Meydan TV, AbzasMedia, and Toplum TV.
Following the searches and arrests, Toplum TV’s operations inside Azerbaijan were effectively paralyzed. In February 2024, the media outlet’s team announced that it would continue its activities from abroad.
