Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown
As media crackdown continues, BBC News Azerbaijan closes its office
Yesterday, BBC News Azerbaijan said it had shuttered its offices after the government forced it to close.
Baku’s Khatai District Court has remanded journalist Nurlan (Libre) Gahramanli to one month and 15 days in pre-trial detention. Gahramanli, who is accused of smuggling money, was detained as part of the Meydan TV case.
On 20 February, Gahramanli was detained in Baku. According to his brother, Gahramanli was then taken to Sumgayit, where he usually resides.
According to his brother, once there, Gahramanli’s house was raided and his and his brother’s phones were confiscated.
Afterwards, Gahramanli was taken back to Baku to attend a bail hearing. According to his relatives, who spoke to journalists, Gahramanli’s lawyer was not in attendance at court as the judge refused to wait for him, citing the inclement weather.
Gahramanli was previously detained in 2023 and sentenced to administrative arrest for sharing social posts against war. He has repeatedly stated that government pressure has been exerted against him.
Previously, on 5 February, Shamshad Aghayev, Editor-in-Chief of the Argument media outlet who collaborated with Meydan TV, was detained. Shortly afterwards, he was remanded to two months and one day of pretrial detention.
Another journalist arrested as Azerbaijan’s media crackdown continues
Journalist Shamshad Aghayev was detained on charges of smuggling as part of the ongoing Meydan TV case.
Aytan Farhadova
On 6 December 2024, Meydan TV employees Ramin (Deko) Jabrailzada, Aynur (Elgunesh) Ganbarova, Aysel Umudova, Aytaj (Tapdig) Ahmedova, Khayala Aghayeva, and Natig Javadli were detained. They were charged with smuggling committed by a group of persons by prior agreement. Under this article, they were remanded to four months of pretrial detention during the investigation.
The houses of all the detained journalists were raided, and their phones, laptops, and other personal belongings confiscated.
Since November 2023, around 30 journalists and public activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on charges of smuggling.
Azerbaijan continues media crackdown — Turan and BBC Azerbaijan forced to close offices
Yesterday, Azerbaijan’s first independent media outlet, Turan, announced it would be closing its office due to financial problems.
Aytan Farhadova
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