Azerbaijan is second in Europe in terms of imprisoned journalists, trailing only Belarus, according to the report “2024: Political Repression, Disinformation, and the Fight for Press Freedom”, published on March 5.

Since November 2023, nearly 30 journalists and activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on smuggling charges. Many of them claim they are being persecuted for their professional activities and political views. Their charges have since been escalated.

The report states that Azerbaijan’s Law on Media continues to restrict press freedom and requires urgent revision, Meydan TV reports.

On March 6, an Azerbaijani court rejected appeals by journalists detained in the Meydan TV case. The Khatai District Court reviewed journalist Aytaj Tapdıg (Ahmadova)’s request to replace her detention with house arrest, her lawyer Cavad Cavadov stated.

"A few days ago, some lawmakers suggested releasing imprisoned journalists on March 8 for International Women’s Day. We had some expectations and filed an appeal, hoping the court would grant it. Unfortunately, we were wrong," Cavadov said, as reported by Meydan TV.

The journalist was present at the hearing, but the court rejected her request. The defense team plans to appeal the ruling in a higher court.

The Baku Court of Appeals also denied journalist Fatima Movlamlu’s appeal on the same day.

All detained journalists deny the charges, insisting they were arrested for their professional work. However, Azerbaijani authorities claim there are no politically motivated arrests in the country.

International human rights organizations and Western officials have called for the release of the imprisoned journalists.

The report also highlights the November 2024 arrest of Azel TV’s founder and editor-in-chief Afgan Sadygov and the decision to extradite him. Azerbaijani authorities accuse him of extortion, but he denies the allegations. He was previously convicted of hooliganism for allegedly causing bodily harm. Georgia denied him political asylum.

According to local human rights organizations, there are over 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. However, official sources deny that any arrests are politically or professionally motivated, claiming that all detainees are held accountable for their actions.

Meydan TV employees Ramin Dekon (Jabrayilzade), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgyunesh), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdıg), Khayala Aghayeva, and Natig Javadli were arrested on December 6, 2024, on smuggling charges under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. They were sentenced to four months of pre-trial detention. On the same day, Ulvi Tahirov, deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism, was also arrested, though he is not affiliated with Meydan TV.

On February 5, "Argumenti" editor-in-chief Shamshad Aghayev (Agha), who collaborated with Meydan TV, was arrested and sentenced to two months and one day of pre-trial detention. On February 20, Nurlan Libren (Gahramanli) was also detained in the same case and sentenced to one month and 17 days in custody. On February 28, Fatima Movlamlu was arrested in connection with the "Meydan TV case," and on March 1, a court sentenced her to one month and nine days of detention. Authorities have conducted searches at the homes of the detainees, seizing phones, computers, and personal belongings.