16:40, 18 December 2024

Human rights defenders call for release of “Meydan TV” journalists

The “Amnesty International” and “Article19” human rights organizations condemned the arrests of journalists and called on the international community to respond to human rights violations in Azerbaijan.

On December 6, employees of the “Meydan TV”, including Ainur Elgyunesh, Aitadj Tapdyg, Khayala Agaeva, Aisel Umudova, Natig Djavadly, and freelance journalist Ramin Deko (Djabrailzade), were detained on suspicion of foreign currency smuggling by prior conspiracy. The detained journalists believe that the criminal case is connected with their professional activities. On December 8, a court sentenced the detained journalists, as well as Ainur Elgyunesh’s friend Ulvi Tairov, to four months of arrest.

“Two weeks after COP29, at least six journalists have been detained in a new wave of arrests in Azerbaijan. We condemn the latest arrests and call on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the journalists and media workers,” the “Amnesty International” (AI) human rights organization emphasized in its statement.

The recent arrests of independent journalists, including “Meydan TV” staff, are part of a crackdown that began a year ago and is aimed at silencing independent critical voices. The above has led to the arrests of journalists and media workers from the “Abzas Media”, “Toplum TV”, “Kanal 13”, and other portals, and now “Meydan TV” staff, as well as academics and activists, the “Amnesty International” claims.

The “Article19” international journalists’ organization also condemned the new arrests of journalists in Azerbaijan. “The crackdown is a fresh reminder that Azerbaijan will not tolerate criticism and dissent. We must continue to fight the pressure on press freedom,” the “Article19” organization emphasized on its account in the “X” social network.

On December 12, the “Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan” released an updated list of political prisoners, with their number having grown to 331.

In 2024, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest point in the country’s 23 years of membership in the Council of Europe (CoE), with the largest increase in their number occurring over the past year.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 16, 2024 at 10:06 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot