Six journalists associated with Meydan TV were detained in Azerbaijan on December 6, with courts ordering their pre-trial detention for four months on smuggling charges, in the latest in a series of crackdowns on independent media in the country. 

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, independent journalist Ramin Jabrailzadeh (known as Ramin Deko) was initially detained at Baku airport upon arrival from Georgia based on information about alleged illegal currency smuggling. The other journalists were subsequently detained as part of the same investigation.

In addition to Jabrailzadeh, the detained journalists are Aynur Ganbarova, Aytaj Ahmadova, Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli and Aysel Umudova. They are being held at the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Centre. 

Following a pattern seen in previous media crackdowns, pro-government websites like Oxu.az published detailed allegations about Meydan TV's funding structure, claiming the organisation receives money through illegal channels. The outlet made numerous unsubstantiated claims about specific financial transactions and personnel without providing evidence or sources, mirroring similar campaigns against other independent media organisations.

The detentions follow similar actions against other independent media outlets. In November 2023, three journalists from AbzasMedia were detained on identical smuggling charges, including the outlet's director Ulvi Hasanli and editor-in-chief Sevinc Vaqifqizi. During that raid, Hasanli reported signs of physical abuse and alleged that evidence had been planted. 

In March 2024, authorities raided Toplum TV's offices, detained about a dozen journalists and activists, and sealed their premises. The outlet's YouTube channel was simultaneously hacked and its content deleted. At least four Toplum TV employees were charged with "smuggling by prior conspiracy" under the same article of the criminal code now being used against Meydan TV journalists. 

The Khatai District Court has charged the Meydan TV journalists under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, which concerns smuggling by an organised group. All six journalists have denied the charges, stating they are related to their journalistic work.

Police have conducted searches at several of the journalists' homes, confiscating personal equipment and belongings. The case also involves Ulvi Tahirov, who according to his lawyer Bahruz Bayramov, has no connection to Meydan TV and was merely a family friend of one of the journalists. 

Concerns have been raised about the detained journalists' conditions. Umudova's health has reportedly deteriorated significantly during detention, with her lawyer reporting that emergency medical assistance was called twice. According to family members, she has experienced severe panic attacks and physical illness throughout her detention.

British Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld expressed concern about the arrests on social media: "I received news of the detention of journalists cooperating with Meydan TV with deep regret. Free and independent media are essential elements of any democracy. Journalists should be able to cover issues without fear of arrest, intimidation, or violence," he tweeted.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of all detained journalists. CPJ's Europe and Central Asia programme coordinator, Gulnoza Said, noted that the timing of the arrests coincided with the conclusion of the UN COP29 climate conference in Baku.

Meydan TV's leadership has issued a statement rejecting all accusations against their journalists: "The detention and interrogation of our journalists is illegal, and we reject all these accusations. Since we began operations, our journalists have been arrested, they and their families have faced persecution, and they have experienced various pressures and threats."

The media outlet, which operates from Berlin with representatives in the Netherlands and Georgia, has been officially blocked within Azerbaijan since 2017. Their social media accounts have faced repeated cyberattacks, according to the organisation's statement.

Since November 2022, at least 15 journalists have been charged with serious crimes in Azerbaijan, with 13 currently in pre-trial detention. Local and international human rights organisations have called the charges fabricated and demanded the immediate release of all detained journalists. Police officials have stated that additional investigations are ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

According to Reporters Without Borders' 2024 World Press Freedom Index, Azerbaijan ranks 164th out of 180 countries, indicating severe restrictions on press freedom. The country has consistently been among the lowest-ranked nations for media independence.