Defendants in the Meydan TV case accused judges of bias.
Journalists arrested in Baku in the Meydan TV case accused the judges of bias, ignoring complaints of human rights violations against the defendants. Their lawyers challenged the panel of judges, but their request was not considered.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot," Meydan TV journalists Aytaj Tapdyg, Aysel Umudova, and Khayala Agayeva complained of violence against them in pretrial detention due to the public disclosure of a report being drawn up regarding their violation of courtroom order. They demanded an investigation into the violence and punishment of the security forces.
On February 13, at a court hearing, the defendants in the Meydan TV case protested against the disconnection of their microphones and the ban on sitting near their lawyers. Security forces drew up a report for disturbing the peace. The journalists interpreted this as a signal that the violation of their rights in the courtroom would continue.
On February 20, at a court hearing in the Meydan TV case, defendant Khayala Agayeva stated that all the defendants were demanding to be released from the glass "aquarium" cage and allowed to sit next to their lawyers. She recalled that at the preparatory hearing, it was decided that the defendants would sit next to their lawyers, but this decision was subsequently arbitrarily changed.
Judge Ayten Aliyeva stated that, despite this decision, the defendants will not be released from the glass cage "due to incidents at the previous hearing." The judge recalled that the defendant, Aysel Umudova, "threatened to climb onto a chair" at the previous hearing on February 13, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported today.
However, Aysel Umudova rejected the judge's argument. "You are violating our rights and trying to shift the blame onto me. I said that if you interrupt me, I will stand on the chair. First of all, I didn't do that. "Secondly, if you're doing this because of me, then leave me in custody [in the cage] and release the others," she said.
In turn, Aytaj Tapdyg told the court that because of the protests at the previous hearing, she, Umudova, and Agayeva were subjected to violence in Baku Pretrial Detention Center No. 1. "Because of our protests at the last hearing, then in the pretrial detention center, they drew up a report against us and demanded that we write explanatory statements. We refused. Two days ago (February 18), violence was used against us in the pretrial detention center under the pretext of a 'shakedown' (search). My voice is hoarse from screaming during the violence I experienced. First of all, it is your duty to send a request to the pretrial detention center and investigate the violence," she said, addressing the judges.
We will protest against all violations of our rights.
Furthermore, according to her, the head of the pretrial detention center, Elnur Ismailov, threatened the journalists that if a report on disturbing the peace in court is drawn up again, they will be placed in solitary confinement.
"I suggest you do not delay with the necessary report and send it to the pretrial detention center today along with us. Because you will not be able to "They can't scare us with either a punishment cell or your security forces. We will protest all violations of our rights throughout this trial," the defendant said.
The Meydan TV case was opened in December 2024, when six journalists were detained and later arrested on charges of currency smuggling. They linked the criminal case to their professional activities. By August 2025, 11 people had been arrested in the Meydan TV case. At the end of August, it was announced that the investigation had been completed, and a 12th suspect, photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar, had been identified. Meanwhile, the arrested journalists were charged with seven additional criminal offenses. . On December 12, 2025, at the first hearing in the Meydan TV case, the court refused to close the criminal case and release the defendants.
Ulviya Ali's lawyer, Rovshana Rahimli, informed the court of her client's serious health problems. According to the lawyer, Ulviya Ali requires specialized examination, for which the Penitentiary Service Medical Facility does not have the appropriate conditions.
The journalist herself asked to be removed from the glass cage in the courtroom, explaining that she was suffering from shortness of breath. The judge granted her request.
Ulviya Ali said that in 2017 she was diagnosed with a tumor in her head. She also suffers from liver and kidney disease. According to her, she was subjected to violence during her detention, which is why her headaches worsened after her arrest. She requested that conditions be created for her to undergo an examination at a private clinic.
Lawyer Javad Javadov petitioned for the release of his clients, Aytaj Tapdyg and Nurlan Gahramanli, to house arrest. Aytaj Tapdyg added that she is demanding not only a change in her pretrial detention, but also her complete release and a declaration of her innocence.
Nurlan Gahramanli called on the court to release all of his colleagues. The journalist stated that due to the lack of other means of achieving justice, he has been on a hunger strike for 36 days. However, according to Gahramanli, he is not receiving medical care.
Nurlan Gahramanli is a freelance journalist who collaborates with various independent publications and is known under the pseudonym Nurlan Libre. He was detained on February 20, 2025. On January 16, Gahramanli declared an indefinite hunger strike in protest against the violence perpetrated by his guards.
"They won't transfer me to a medical facility; they're obviously waiting for me to completely collapse," Gahramanli said. The journalist looked pale and haggard.
The judges did not consider the motion to recuse themselves.
Later at the hearing, Agayeva's lawyer, Nazim Musayev, urged the court to respect its decision and allow the defendants to sit next to their defense attorneys. "Or overturn this decision. Because if the court doesn't implement its own decision, it's biased," Musayev said.
He asked for time for the defense to prepare a recusal from the bench. The other defense attorneys supported him. After a short break, the lawyers challenged the court, arguing that "the judges are not respecting their own decisions."
"At the preparatory hearing, it was decided that the accused should sit next to their lawyers. Precedential decisions of the European Court have defined holding defendants in such a glass cage during the trial as "torture and degrading treatment." A person in custody must be allocated at least 4 square meters of space. "Here, 12 people were placed in 5 square meters. The fact that the court is not enforcing its own decision gives grounds to question the objectivity of its further actions," stated lawyer Musayev.
Dzhavad Dzhavadov added that the defendants in the glass cage cannot consult with their defense attorneys and are being held "in conditions without air." The defendants also supported the recusal of the judges.
Announce whatever the presidential administration orders, and let's get this over with.
Journalist Shamshad Aga stated that if the court "has no intention of conducting an objective and fair trial, then there is no point in torturing the defendants and bringing them to court."
"Why are you needlessly tiring us? These people [the audience at the hearing] are also suffering; they come to court because of us. "Just as Tsar Nicholas once gave orders and they were carried out, so too will you announce what the presidential administration orders, and that will be the end of it," Agha said.
Those arrested in the Meydan TV case were persecuted on the orders of the Azerbaijani leadership for their journalistic activities, one of the defendants, Shamshad Agha, stated earlier. "You have neither the authority nor the courage to make arbitrary decisions in any process controlled by [the country's president] Ilham Aliyev. In these processes, the investigator, the prosecutor, and the judge are Ilham Aliyev," he told the court.
The other defendants also wanted to speak out, but Judge Aliyeva did not allow them to do so. On her instructions, the guards removed the microphone from the glass "aquarium." The judges then decided to dismiss the request for their recusal without consideration.
Then, lawyer Zibeyda Sadygova petitioned for Shamshad Aga to be released under house arrest, citing the tragic events in his family.
"First, his 16-year-old niece died prematurely, and his mother recently died. This man will not evade trial. On the contrary, he is interested in attending the hearings to the end and achieving acquittal. Let him be with his family during this difficult time," the lawyer said.
And the accused, editor-in-chief of Meydan TV Aynur Elgunesh (Gambarova), added that Aga also The sister is seriously ill. However, the petition was denied.
The court refused to initiate an investigation into complaints of violence in the pretrial detention center.
Following this, the lawyers filed a motion asking the court to send a notice to the Prosecutor General's Office regarding the incident in the pretrial detention center against journalists Agayeva, Tapdyg, and Umudova. The lawyers noted that the pretrial detention center has CCTV cameras, and their recordings should be used in the investigation.
In response, Judge Aliyeva stated that a notice to the Prosecutor General's Office would not be sent to investigate the incident, but a request would be made to the Baku Pretrial Detention Center itself.
We are complaining about them, and you are sending them a request.
The defendants and their defense attorneys protested this decision. "We're complaining about them, and you're sending them a request. Do you really think they'll confess?" Tapdyg said.
Rovshan Rahimli's lawyer petitioned to seize CCTV footage from the pretrial detention center. However, Judge Aliyeva denied the petition and concluded the hearing.
The only foreign representatives visible in the courtroom were employees of the Swiss Embassy and the EU Delegation.
On February 18, an appeal was circulated on behalf of the defendants in the Meydan TV case to foreign embassies and international organizations. The arrested journalists called on diplomatic missions, in particular the EU mission, as well as the embassies of the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and France, to send their employees to observe the trial and witness its unfairness.
A court employee told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the next court hearing in the Meydan TV case is scheduled for March 13. Representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comment. A "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was also unable to obtain comment from the Penitentiary Service.
Nurlan could barely move. He complained of pain throughout his body.
Nurlan Gahramanli's wife, Asli Alizade, admitted that she was concerned about his health. "On February 19, we saw Nurlan in the pretrial detention center. He is extremely emaciated. Each time, he loses significantly more weight, literally melting away. Nurlan can barely move. He complained of pain all over his body. He only drinks water. He is not receiving any medical care. Moreover, on February 16, they demanded that he write an explanatory note about violating order in court, and they also searched his cell," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
As a reminder, journalists from other media outlets, including Abzas Media, Toplum TV, and Kanal-13, have also been persecuted in Azerbaijan. On June 20, journalists and employees of Abzas Media were sentenced to imprisonment for terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years. In court, they denied the charges, emphasizing that they were being persecuted for their professional activities and for investigating corruption cases.
The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest point in 2024 since the country's 23-year membership in the Council of Europe, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Key Points About the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan." At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country.
Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/421001
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