The Khatai District Court made the decision to place him in detention for 1 month and 17 days.
Journalist Nurlan Libre (Gakhramanli) has been arrested. The court decision has been made to place him under detention for 1 month and 17 days. This decision was made on the 21st of , February, by the Khatai District Court following the presentation of the investigation authorities. The court has granted the request and imposed a detention period of 1 month and 17 days.
He has been charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, which concerns smuggling committed by a group of people working in concert. Journalist Nurlan Gakhramanli was detained on 20th of February, at noon, and a search was conducted at his residence in Sumgayit. According to a statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, journalist Nurlan Gakhramanli (Libre) was arrested in connection with a criminal case linked to “Meydan TV.”
On December 6, 2024, several “Meydan TV” employees, including Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzada), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunash), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig), Khayala Aghayeva, and Natig Javadli, were also detained. They were charged under Article 206.3.2 (smuggling, committed by a group of individuals working together) of the Criminal Code. A 4-month detention was imposed on them during the investigation.
Along with the “Meydan TV” staff, Ulvi Tahirov, a member of civil society, was also arrested on the same day. He has been placed under a 4-month detention period for the same charges, though he has no connection to “Meydan TV.” On February 5th, Shamshad Aghayev (Agha), the editor-in-chief of “arqument.az,” a journalist collaborating with “Meydan TV,” was also detained. A detention period of 2 months and 1 day was imposed on him.
Searches were conducted at the homes of the detained journalists, and their phones, computers, and other personal belongings were confiscated. The detained journalists maintain their innocence, stating that they are being punished for the critical activities of “Meydan TV” staff.
Currently, around 30 journalists and civil society activists are imprisoned under similar charges. They reject the accusations, linking them to their professional work. Government representatives claim that there are no politically motivated arrests in the country.
International human rights organizations and Western officials have called on the government to release those unjustly detained.
