Azerbaijan 06.04.2026 Meydan TV trial in Azerbaijan: judge intervenes at mention of Heydar Aliyev’s name Baku Share Share Trial in Meydan TV case in Azerbaijan Another court hearing in the case of the popular online outlet Meydan TV was held at the Baku Court for Serious Crimes on April 3. Judge Ayten Aliyeva invited the journalists, who are accused of smuggling and financial crimes, to give free testimony. Their lawyers requested to be allowed to present motions first, but their objection was not upheld.
On December 6, 2024, Meydan TV staff members Ramin Deko (Jabrailzade), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmedova (Tapdig), Khayala Aghayeva , and Natig Javadli were detained in Baku. They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons in prior collusion), and the criminal case opened against them became known as the “Meydan TV case.” Later, journalists Shamshad Agha, Nurlan Libre, Fatima Movlamli, Ulviya Ali , and Ahmed Mukhtar were also arrested in connection with the case. In August 2025, the charges against the journalists were intensified and additional articles were added.
All detained journalists and the management of Meydan TV deny the charges and say they are being persecuted for their critical reporting on the authorities. Meydan TV case in Azerbaijan: ‘If I wrote paid articles, I would choose local officials, not foreigners’ At the latest hearing in the Meydan TV case, the defendants rejected the charges brought by the investigation. Editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunes told the court that the journalists were under arrest because of their beliefs.
The judge intervened when Heydar Aliyev’s name was mentioned Here are some excerpts from the statement of Natig Javadli, who was arrested in connection with the “Meydan TV case”: “A few words about lies. As a society, we have never held a systematic discussion on this topic or developed a public discourse around it. Some individuals have made such attempts, but it has never become the subject of consistent public debate.
As a result, public condemnation of lies has not taken shape in Azerbaijan . Sufis said that lies are a phenomenon that leads to other forms of dishonour. These, figuratively speaking, create a ‘lump in the throat of society.’ This includes sycophancy, hypocrisy, as well as cruelty and betrayal.
In 2023, a documentary series about Heydar Aliyev was produced on Public Television. The series was filled with praise. While in detention, I reflected on this: how hypocrisy and sycophancy are born out of lies.” In 2023, a documentary series about Heydar Aliyev was produced by Public Television.
The series was full of praise. While already in detention, I reflected on this: how hypocrisy and sycophancy are born out of lies.” Meydan TV case in Azerbaijan: ‘Cancel trial and let us be punished under Ilham Aliyev’s decree’ As in previous hearings, the trial was again marked by tensions between the journalists and the panel of judges. At that point, Judge Aytan Aliyeva interrupted Natig Javadli, saying his remarks were not relevant to the charges.
Javadli objected. “He is speaking to the point,” Aytaj Tapdig told the judges. Javadli then continued his statement.
“Are you aware that a former head of state dismissed officials for political hypocrisy? In 1995, if I am not mistaken, the decree dismissing state adviser Gabil Huseynli cited ‘political hypocrisy’ as the reason. Or in 1999, the head of the Zangilan district executive authority was dismissed for sycophancy.
That wording was also included in the decree. Even the head of the Presidential Administration, R. Mehdiyev, commented on that decree in the newspaper Azerbaijan.
The trigger was an article by the district head, in which he declared his readiness to give his heart to Aliyev, who had undergone heart surgery — and that article was published in the same newspaper, Azerbaijan. Another example of sycophancy: in the summer of 1993, if I recall correctly, a poem by a certain poet (I will not name him, as he is no longer alive), filled with praise for H. Aliyev, was published in the newspaper Azerbaijan.
Publishing poetry in an official newspaper is rare — especially of this kind, steeped in flattery. In literature, this style is usually reserved for praising women, yet in Azerbaijani servile writing we saw it used in this way as well. Why am I recalling this?
If a public discussion about lies had begun in Azerbaijan at the time, and a public condemnation had taken shape, none of this would have happened. More broadly, pro-government media would not be spreading false information about us today. Take note: Meydan TV’s mission was not to spread falsehoods, but to deliver accurate news to society.” Being a journalist in Azerbaijan: the story of the detention of Ulviyya Ali, Voice of America reporter He started punching me in the head.
Every time I said “I don’t know,” he hit me. Then he said, “Bring the taser,” and threatened to rape me ‘The name of the YAP was coined by Sirus Tabrizli — who later called it a party of faceless looters ‘ “The way state prosecutor Ergin Gafarov presented the fabricated claims in the indictment reminded me of the words of Fuad Akhundov, a judge at Baku’s Khatai District Court, who said on 20 September 2025: ‘You were arrested on the basis of suspicions.’ When I reminded the judge of Article 21 of the Criminal Procedure Code — the presumption of innocence — instead of giving a clear answer, he merely blinked like a schoolboy. Even my lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, told him: ‘You are a lecturer at Baku State University — do you understand what you are saying?
Tomorrow you will stand in front of your students.’ But there was still no answer. Mr Gafarov repeatedly uses the phrase ‘unregistered, illegal media outlet Meydan TV’. First of all, Meydan TV is a foreign media outlet, so it cannot be registered here.
More broadly, the requirement for state registration of media in Azerbaijan was abolishe
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