“Toplum TV Case”: Reading of the Indictment Completed — Proceedings to Continue on 30 June

Today, a court hearing was held in the “Toplum TV case.”

The remaining parts of the indictment were read for defendants Akif Qurbanov, Alesker Mammadli, Ruslan Izzetli, Ramil Babayev, Ali Zeynalov, Mushfig Jabbarov, Ilkin Amrahov, Farid Ismayilov, and Elmir Abbasov.

During the hearing at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Azer Taghiyev, the parts of the indictment concerning Elmir Abbasov, Farid Ismayilov, and Ilkin Amrahov were announced.

With this, the reading of the indictment has been completed.

All defendants rejected the charges.

The trial will resume on 30 June.

In total, 10 people are charged in the “Toplum TV case.”

Those currently in detention include:

• Alesker Mammadli, co-founder of Toplum TV
• Journalists Mushfig Jabbarov and Farid Ismayilov
• Akif Qurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and speaker of the III Republic Platform
• Ruslan Izzetli, founding board member of the III Republic Platform
• III Republic Platform staffers Ali Zeynalov, Ramil Babayev, and Ilkin Amrahov

Journalist Elmir Abbasov is under police supervision, while Shahnaz Beylergizi has been placed under house arrest.

Initially charged with smuggling, the defendants later faced more serious accusations.

They deny the charges, stating that they have been imprisoned on politically motivated grounds.

These developments have effectively made Toplum TV’s operations in Azerbaijan impossible.

Since February 2024, the media outlet has continued its activities through journalists based outside the country.