Photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar Arrested in Expanding Meydan TV Case

August 29, 2025 – Azerbaijan – 

Azerbaijani authorities have intensified their pressure on independent media with the arrest of photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar, who has become the 12th individual detained under the wide-ranging investigation into the so-called “Meydan TV case.” His detention has drawn sharp concern among press freedom advocates, who view it as part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices and intimidate media workers in the country.

Mukhtar was arrested in Baku and placed under 40 days of pretrial detention by the Khatai District Court. The charges against him have not been publicly clarified in detail, but they fall within the same umbrella accusations—ranging from smuggling to money laundering—that authorities have used against other detainees connected to Meydan TV. However, Meydan TV’s editor-in-chief has made it clear that Mukhtar has no formal ties to the outlet, underscoring the arbitrary and politically charged nature of the prosecution.

This was not Mukhtar’s first encounter with the authorities. In December 2024, he was arrested on administrative grounds, accused of “minor hooliganism” and “disobedience to a police order.” That incident led to a 20-day detention before his release, an experience that foreshadowed his latest arrest and reflected the ongoing pattern of harassment faced by journalists in Azerbaijan.

The inclusion of Mukhtar in this case, despite his lack of association with Meydan TV, suggests that the investigation is less about specific alleged crimes and more about targeting individuals perceived as critical or independent voices. Rights groups and colleagues argue that his detention is emblematic of the broader strategy to expand the scope of repression and instill fear among journalists.

For Mukhtar, a photojournalist whose work has captured the realities of Azerbaijani society, this latest arrest represents a continuation of the state’s campaign against press freedom. His placement in pretrial detention, alongside others swept up in the Meydan TV case, signals that the authorities are determined to widen the crackdown even as international criticism mounts.

With the investigative phase of the Meydan TV case now concluded and the file transferred to the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, Mukhtar’s fate remains uncertain. His detention has become both a personal ordeal and a stark reminder of the risks faced by Azerbaijani journalists working under relentless state scrutiny.

Reference – 

https://kompromat1.online/articles/345409-azerbaijan_arrects_12th_person_in_the_meydan_tv_case

https://oc-media.org/azerbaijani-photojournalist-ahmed-mukhtar-arrested-in-meydan-tv-case/

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