Post-COP29 crackdown in Azerbaijan: RSF calls for the release of Meydan TV journalists
Six journalists from the independent news outlet were arrested on Friday and placed in pretrial detention on Sunday, 8 December. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns these arbitrary detentions, part of a systematic strategy to silence critics of Ilham Aliyev’s regime, and calls for their immediate release.
"Barely a month after Ilham Aliyev’s regime used the glitz of COP29 to polish its international image, it has resumed its relentless repression of journalists. The detention of six Meydan TV journalists once again proves the regime’s willingness to shamelessly target the individuals who dare to keep Azerbaijani citizens informed. RSF demands their immediate release — as well as the release of the 13 other journalists arbitrarily detained — and calls on the international community not to turn a blind eye to these grave, systematic violations of fundamental rights.
Independent journalist Ramin Deko Jabrailzade was the first to be arrested at Baku airport, upon his return from Georgia, around noon local time on 6 December. Shortly afterwards, five employees of Meydan TV, an Azerbaijani outlet headquartered in Germany, went missing: Aynur Elgunesh Gambarova, Natig Javadli, Khayala Agayeva, Aytaj Tapdig Ahmadova, and Aysel Umudova. Their families later confirmed that they had been arrested.
Two days later, on 8 December, after some of their homes were searched, the six journalists were placed in pretrial detention for four months, accused of "foreign currency smuggling". They face up to eight years in prison on these charges, which their newsroom has vehemently denied in a statement. This indictment has frequently been used as a pretext for judicial harassment since a new wave of repression began in November 2023, targeting journalists from outlets such as Toplum TV and Abzas Media. The trial for Abzas Media is set to begin on 17 December.
The lawyer of journalist Aysel Umudova has raised concerns about her health.
