Journalist in Azerbaijan's "Meydan TV Case" Calls Charges "Laughable" as Colleagues' Detention is Extended

BAKU – Journalist Fatima Movlamli, imprisoned in connection with the "Meydan TV case," has described the criminal charges against her as "laughable" and "far from reality" in a letter from prison. Her statement comes as the Khatai District Court, on 20 September, extended the pre-trial detention of five of her colleagues in the same case for another three months.

The court prolonged the detention periods for journalists Aynur Qanbarova (Elgunash), Khayala Aghayeva, Natig Javadli, Aysel Umudova, and Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko). They were initially detained on 6 December 2024 on charges of smuggling by a group of persons in a preliminary conspiracy. However, on 28 August 2025, the charges were significantly escalated, with seven new articles from the Criminal Code added. These new accusations include illegal entrepreneurship by an organised group, money laundering, smuggling by an organised group, and tax evasion.

Fatima Movlamli, who is also charged under seven separate articles, shared her thoughts in a letter titled "A Million-Manat Slander" after the preliminary investigation was declared complete on 4 September. The accused are alleged to have obtained over one million manats in illegal income and to owe more than 79,000 manats in taxes. "I couldn't stop myself from laughing as I read the accusations," Movlamli wrote from the Baku Detention Center. "Truly, the case is so poorly and unrealistically constructed that it doesn't even arouse indignation in me; it just seems laughable".

Movlamli asserts that the accusations are a "blatant lie," stating that, unlike their accusers, they have never had illegal or criminally obtained earnings. She firmly believes they are imprisoned for their journalistic activities and their fight for independent media. "We are in jail for our journalistic activities (even though journalism is not a crime)," she stated.

She added that the ten-month investigation had failed to convince anyone of their guilt. Movlamli shared an anecdote from prison, explaining that when new acquaintances ask what crime she is accused of, she simply replies, "I am a journalist," which ends the questioning. "Nobody has asked, 'so what if you're a journalist, why are you in prison?' Because everyone knows that in Azerbaijan, a journalist can be imprisoned simply for doing their job honestly," she explained.

Movlamli concluded her letter with a defiant call: "Long live independent media! Long live freedom of speech!".