Meydan TV Journalists Speak Out About Mistreatment Amid Intensifying Crackdown

March 12, 2025 – Azerbaijan – 

Azerbaijan’s ongoing crackdown on independent media has taken a troubling turn with the recent arrest and reported mistreatment of journalists linked to Meydan TV, one of the few critical Azerbaijani media outlets operating in exile. The case underscores the government’s growing intolerance for dissent and its determination to crush any remaining spaces for investigative journalism.

Journalist Aghjabadi Mehtiyev, arrested as part of a wider investigation into Meydan TV, has broken his silence from detention, responding to state-aligned media reports that sought to discredit his reputation. Mehtiyev denied allegations that he cooperated with foreign intelligence or engaged in illicit activities, calling the state narrative a fabrication intended to delegitimize his work and that of his colleagues. He maintained that his reporting was always grounded in truth and accountability, not political agendas.

Meanwhile, other journalists detained in connection with the case have voiced serious concerns about the conditions of their imprisonment. They allege they have been denied access to legal representation, subjected to psychological pressure, and deprived of basic rights. One of the journalists reported being interrogated for hours without a lawyer present and pressured to make false confessions about Meydan TV’s operations.

The arrests are part of a broader trend in Azerbaijan, where authorities continue to conflate journalism with subversion. Meydan TV, headquartered in Germany, has long been targeted by the Aliyev regime for exposing government corruption, election irregularities, and human rights abuses. As a result, its contributors and affiliates inside Azerbaijan face surveillance, harassment, and frequent arrests.

Human rights groups and press freedom advocates have condemned the detentions, calling them politically motivated and emblematic of Azerbaijan’s shrinking media space. They are urging the international community to step up diplomatic pressure on Baku to release the journalists and respect press freedom obligations under international law.

This latest escalation paints a grim picture for independent journalism in Azerbaijan, where even association with a critical outlet like Meydan TV is enough to land reporters behind bars—and strip them of their voice.

Reference – 

Journalists arrested in the “Meydan TV Case” complain about mistreatment

Journalist arrested in Meydan TV case responds to reports about him