Azerbaijan Escalates Crackdown: New Charges Against Meydan TV & Journalist Arrested

September 03, 2025 – Azerbaijan –  

Azerbaijan has intensified its assault on independent media by tacking on seven new financial crime charges—including currency smuggling—against ten journalists detained in the long-running Meydan TV case. The move, made public on September 3, 2025, expands the government’s legal assault, exposing journalists to potential sentences of up to 12 years. ([turn0search1], [turn0search0])

Simultaneously, photojournalist Ahmad Mukhtar was arrested and detained, joining the growing roster of media professionals targeted under this case. Mukhtar is now the 12th person imprisoned, despite Meydan TV’s editor-in-chief denying any connection between Mukhtar and the outlet. The authorities have pledged to forward the expanded case against the Meydan journalists to the Baku Grave Crimes Court for review. ([turn0search2], [turn0search3])

Since late 2023, Azerbaijani authorities have jailed at least 21 journalists and media workers, frequently leveraging accusations tied to Western funding and illicit economic activity as a pretext for silencing dissenting voices. ([turn0search0])

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly condemned the new charges and Mukhtar’s arrest, calling for the immediate release of all journalists detained under trumped-up allegations. The organization emphasized that these developments signal a dangerous trend—one in which independent reporting is equated with criminal activity. ([turn0search1])

The broader context underscores a sustained pattern of repression. Journalists from outlets like Abzas Media, Toplum TV, and Meydan TV have been relentlessly targeted with “economic crimes” charges—such as smuggling, tax evasion, and money laundering. These are widely seen by press freedom advocates as tools to dismantle opposition media under the guise of legality. ([turn0search25], [turn0news21])

This latest episode highlights how Azerbaijan’s judicial system continues to be weaponized against press freedom and independent scrutiny. The escalation of charges against Meydan TV journalists and the arrest of individuals not even affiliated with the outlet represent a chilling message: independent journalism is no longer tolerated, and arbitrary legal repression is set to become the norm.

Let me know if you’d like insights into how international bodies are responding or comparisons with media suppression trends in the region.

Reference – 

Azerbaijan brings new charges against Meydan TV, arrests another journalist