{"id":350744,"date":"2026-11-02T12:51:39","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T08:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meydan.tv\/article\/amnesty-international-meydan-tv-jurnalistl%c9%99rinin-t%c9%99cili-azadliga-buraxilmasini-t%c9%99l%c9%99b-edir\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T17:52:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T13:52:47","slug":"amnesty-international-demands-the-release-of-meydan-tv-journalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meydan.tv\/en\/article\/amnesty-international-demands-the-release-of-meydan-tv-journalists\/","title":{"rendered":"Amnesty International demands the release of Meydan TV journalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The organisation says the health of Aynur Elgunesh, Aytaj Tapdig and Shamshad Agha is deteriorating and that they are not receiving adequate medical care in detention.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

International human rights organisation Amnesty International has issued a new urgent statement<\/a> expressing concern over the health of journalists detained in Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement raises concerns about the conditions of Meydan TV editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunesh, journalist Aytaj Tapdiq and editor Shamshad Agha. The organisation has called on the Azerbaijani government to immediately and unconditionally release them, as well as the other journalists detained in the Meydan TV case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International considers the journalists to be facing politically motivated charges in retaliation for their independent professional activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerns over the health of three journalists<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to the organisation, Aynur Elgunesh, who suffers from serious kidney problems, was transferred to the Medical Institution of the Penitentiary Service on 18 October. Although doctors recommended urgent surgery, the journalist has not yet undergone the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing information from her lawyers, the organisation also reports that growths have been detected in the chest area of the journalist, who has physical disabilities. Despite her deteriorating health, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes rejected her request for house arrest on 26 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International notes that another journalist, Aytaj Tapdig, has also been denied necessary medical care for more than 22 months. The journalist, who has a deviated nasal septum, has been unable to receive an examination and treatment from an ear, nose and throat specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shamshad Agha, who suffers from a stomach ulcer, is also said to require medical treatment. The organisation stresses that he must receive the necessary medical care at the medical facility to which he was transferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calls for investigation into allegations of torture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The statement also refers to reports that other journalists detained in the Meydan TV case have been subjected to violence by police and penitentiary service officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation says that Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) reported being threatened with sexual violence on two occasions and beaten by police officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aysel Umudova said she was sexually harassed during her arrest, Khayala Aghayeva reported psychological abuse, and Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli) reported physical violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Amnesty International, none of these allegations has been effectively investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation emphasises that denying detainees necessary medical care may also amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AZN 79,000 claim against 12 journalists<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International’s document also highlights a new development in the court proceedings in the Meydan TV case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It reports that on 12 October, the State Tax Service filed a civil claim totalling AZN 79,089 against the 12 defendants in the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the organisation, the claim does not specify the individual responsibility of each person or how the amount is to be divided among them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International considers this another indication that the proceedings are not being conducted in accordance with fair trial standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation notes that nearly 30 journalists and media workers have been arrested in Azerbaijan since November 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appeal to Ilham Aliyev<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International has called on the public to send appeals to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists, access to necessary medical care, and independent investigations into allegations of torture and ill-treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The appeal also calls for an end to the use of criminal prosecution to target independent media and peaceful protests in Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation’s campaign will continue until 30 January 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Meydan TV case<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first arrests in the Meydan TV case took place on 6 December 2024. A total of 12 people are currently facing trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journalists are charged with smuggling and other criminal offences. They reject the charges and say their arrests are linked to their journalistic work covering government corruption and other misconduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International considers their detention unjustified and says that pressure on independent media in Azerbaijan is intensifying.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The organisation says the health of Aynur Elgunesh, Aytaj Tapdig … <\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":350734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[80,37,141],"tags":[162,221,237,125,283,145,147,142,144,271],"class_list":["post-350744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-en","category-news","category-the-meydan-tv-case","tag-amnesty-international","tag-aynur-elgunesh","tag-aytaj-tapdig","tag-azerbaijan","tag-baku-court-of-grave-crimes","tag-free-journalism","tag-government-repression","tag-meydan-tv","tag-press-freedom","tag-shamshad-agha","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAmnesty International demands the release of Meydan TV journalists - MEYDAN.TV<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The organisation says the health of Aynur Elgunesh, Aytaj Tapdig and Shamshad Agha is deteriorating and that they are not receiving adequate medical care in detention.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meydan.tv\/en\/article\/amnesty-international-demands-the-release-of-meydan-tv-journalists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Amnesty International demands the release of Meydan TV journalists - 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