Ulviyya Ali’s Appeal Denied

Court Rejects Extension Appeal of Detained Journalist in the Meydan TV Case

On July 8, the Baku Court of Appeal reviewed the appeal filed against the extension of the pre-trial detention of journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), who was arrested in connection with the Meydan TV case.

The hearing was chaired by Judge Qadim Babayev, who rejected the journalist’s appeal.

Earlier, on June 24, the pre-trial detention of the following journalists and civil society members was extended by an additional three months:

• Aynur Elgunes (Qanbarova)
• Aytac Tapdig (Ahmadova)
• Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzade)
• Aysel Umudova
• Khayala Agayeva
• Natiq Javadli
• Shamshad Aga (Agayev) – Chief Editor of Arqument.az
• Fatima Movlamli
• Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva)
• Nurlan Libre (Gahramanov)
• Ulvi Tahirov – Civil society activist

All of them filed appeals against the decision.

From July 2 to 7, the Baku Court of Appeal heard multiple appeals from those detained in the case. The appeals of Nurlan Gahramanli (Libre) and Khayala Agayeva were rejected on July 2. The following appeals were also denied:

• Natiq Javadli (July 3)
• Aynur Elgunes (July 4, Judge Ramin Garagurbanli)
• Aytac Tapdig (Judge Anar Ibrahimov)
• Shamshad Aga (Judge Qadim Babayev)
• Fatima Movlamli (Judge Ramin Garagurbanli)
• Aysel Umudova (July 7, Judge Qadim Babayev)

On December 6, 2024, five Meydan TV journalists — Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko), Aynur Qanbarova (Elgunes), Aytac Ahmadova (Tapdig), Aysel Umudova, and Khayala Agayeva — were detained.

They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by an organized group), and the court ordered pre-trial detention.

Ulvi Tahirov, a civil society activist, was also detained the same day, although he has no affiliation with Meydan TV.

On February 5, 2025, Shamshad Agayev (Aga), editor-in-chief of Arqument.az and a journalist cooperating with Meydan TV, was also arrested.

On February 20, Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli) was detained under the same criminal case, followed by Fatima Movlamli on February 28.

Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) was detained on May 7 as part of the ongoing criminal case related to Meydan TV.

All detained journalists deny the charges and claim they are being punished for their critical reporting and journalistic work.

Currently, around 30 journalists and civil activists are behind bars on similar charges. They reject the allegations and link their arrests directly to their professional activities.

Authorities deny the existence of politically motivated arrests. However, international human rights organizations and Western officials have repeatedly called on the Azerbaijani government to release all unjustly detained individuals.