Baku, Azerbaijan – On the evening of December 6, five journalists from Meydan TV, an independent online media outlet, were detained in Baku. Among those taken into custody are Aynur Elgunesh, Aitaj Tapdyg, Natik Javadli, Ramin Jabrailzade (widely known as Deco), and Hayala Agayeva. Sources close to the journalists report that they were transported to the Baku City Police Department.
The Interior Ministry’s press service informed the local news agency Turan that Ramin Jabrailzade was detained on allegations of involvement in the illegal importation of foreign currency into Azerbaijan. Officials stated that additional individuals were also detained as part of an ongoing investigation into the case.
Meydan TV, based in Berlin, has faced longstanding opposition from Azerbaijani authorities, who accuse the outlet of operating illegally within the country. Known for its critical reporting on government corruption and human rights violations, Meydan TV frequently finds itself at odds with the Azerbaijani government.
International organizations have expressed concern over the detentions, citing Azerbaijan’s troubling track record on press freedom. Advocacy groups warn that actions like these are part of a broader pattern of state suppression targeting independent media.
Azerbaijan consistently ranks poorly on global indices of press freedom, and the recent detentions add to a growing list of measures perceived as crackdowns on journalists. Advocacy groups worldwide, including Free Press Alliance, are calling for transparency in the ongoing investigation and urging Azerbaijani authorities to respect the rights of journalists.