Meydan TV Journalists Appeal to Euronews

Imprisoned journalists from Meydan TV have issued an open appeal to the Euronews television channel, drawing attention to systematic pressure and repression against independent media in Azerbaijan in recent years.

The journalists state that following the adoption of the restrictive Law “On Media” in 2022, contrary to international conventions and standards and criticized by the Venice Commission, pressure on independent media and journalists has taken on a total and systematic character.

According to the appeal, the process began in 2023 with the arrest of Abzas Media staff and the closure of its office, and continued in 2024 with the arrests of journalists from Toplum TV and Meydan TV, whose offices were also shut down. Some of the remaining independent journalists were forced to leave the country due to political pressure, while others who stayed were banned from traveling abroad or remain under investigation.

The appeal further notes that the Azerbaijani authorities officially banned the activities of foreign media outlets such as Voice of America, the BBC, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Baku, closing their offices. Amid these repressive conditions, Turan News Agency, the country’s only remaining independent news agency despite being registered in the Media Registry, announced the suspension of its operations.

As a result, local outlets including Abzas Media, Toplum TV, Arqument.az, the only independent print newspaper Azadlıq, as well as foreign media resources such as the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Meydan TV, are no longer able to operate inside the country. The authors of the appeal state that independent media has effectively ceased to exist in Azerbaijan, while journalists’ professional activities have been severely restricted.

The journalists emphasize that state-controlled media and television channels are conducting propaganda campaigns against imprisoned journalists on political orders. In this context, Euronews and its Baku bureau remain the only Western media presence operating in Azerbaijan.

Noting Euronews’ long-standing claims of independence, impartiality, and commitment to European values and freedom of expression, the imprisoned journalists call on Euronews and its Baku-based colleagues to broadcast their politically motivated court trials live.