Court Hearing Continues in the “Meydan TV Case”
On December 22, the Baku Serious Crimes Court held another hearing in the case involving individuals arrested in the so-called “Meydan TV case.” The session was presided over by Judge Ayten Aliyeva.
During the hearing, it was announced that the State Tax Service had filed a civil claim against the defendants in the amount of 79,589 manats. The agency was represented in court by Fatima Ahmadova.
Defense lawyers requested permission for audio and video recording, citing the public interest of the case. The court rejected the motion, stating that media representatives were free to attend and take notes.
The court granted a motion by Meydan TV editor-in-chief Aynur Ganbarova (Elgünesh) regarding the return of her disability and internally displaced person certificates seized during the investigation. Her request to meet her pet was forwarded to the relevant authority for review.
Shamshad Agha, editor-in-chief of Argument.az, objected to the investigation materials, stating that they were not prepared on numbered official forms and could therefore be falsified. The court rejected these motions. Shamshad Agha described the proceedings as unlawful and sharply criticized the court.
Other defense motions concerning the exclusion of evidence and access to documents were also denied.
Journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva (Ali) stated that her phone and computer had been confiscated and requested that her personal photos and videos be returned. Journalist Fatima Movlamli demanded the return of a phone belonging to her mother that had also been seized.
While the indictment was being read, female journalists from Meydan TV protested by singing a modified version of the “Girls’ Chorus” from Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s operetta Arshin Mal Alan. Following this, the hearing was adjourned.
The next court session is scheduled for January 16, 2026.
The first arrests in the “Meydan TV case” took place on December 6, 2024. Initially, the detainees were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling), and later the charges were expanded to include a total of seven articles.
The arrested journalists deny all accusations, stating that their detention is politically motivated and aimed at silencing independent media and free voices in the country.