Toplum TV Case: Health Concerns Ignored as Journalists Remain Detained Amid Allegations of State Pressure

Baku, Azerbaijan – In the latest development of the ongoing "Toplum TV Case," a Baku Court of Grave Crimes hearing today saw motions for house arrest for two prominent accused journalists denied, despite mounting concerns over their health. The court, presided over by Judge Azer Tagiyev, rejected the defense's requests, citing a lack of official medical documentation.

The "Toplum TV Case" has seen 10 individuals, primarily journalists and public activists, face criminal charges since arrests began in March 2024. Initially accused of smuggling, the charges were aggravated on January 17, 2024. Those arrested include Toplum TV co-founder Alesger Memmedli, journalists Farid Ismayilov and Mushfig Jabbar, Institute for Democratic Initiatives (IDI) head and III Republic Platform speaker Akif Gurbanov, III Republic Platform founding member Ruslan Izzetli, and IDI employees Ali Zeynal, Ilkin Emrahov, and Ramil Babayev. Journalists Elmir Abbasov and Shahbaz Beylergizi have been placed under police supervision. The accused deny all charges, asserting their arrests are politically motivated.

During today's proceedings, defense lawyers for Alesger Memmedli and Farid Ismayilov presented motions for their release to house arrest, emphasizing their deteriorating health. However, Judge Tagiyev dismissed these requests, stating that no official medical examination or opinion confirming the severity of their conditions had been submitted to the court.

Alesger Memmedli's wife, Gunay Memmedli, voiced grave concerns on her social media account regarding her husband's health. She revealed that a 23mm tumor has been discovered in his thyroid gland, which requires immediate surgical intervention. Furthermore, she stated that Mr. Memmedli experiences severe headaches and high blood pressure due to stress and nervous tension after each court session, also facing difficulties with food intake.

Gunay Memmedli also reported that prosecutor Rauf Malyshov objected to the defense's motion. She highlighted a critical issue: an ultrasound examination of Alesger Memmedli was conducted in the pre-trial detention center a month ago, but its results have been withheld from both his lawyers and herself. "They are hiding the results because they were aware that the documents would be presented to the court," she stated, adding, "They are not presenting the results because the medical indication directly recommends surgery. This is an attempt to indirectly torture and aggravate the situation."

Also at the hearing, Akif Gurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, concluded his speech, which he had begun in previous sessions. He spoke extensively about the threats and pressures his family members have faced since he became involved in socio-political activities, directly attributing responsibility for these incidents to the authorities.

The "Toplum TV Case" is part of a broader trend in Azerbaijan, where approximately 30 journalists and public activists have been arrested on similar smuggling charges since November 2023. Toplum TV itself has characterized the ongoing events as a form of pressure against independent media. Conversely, the Azerbaijani authorities maintain that no individual is persecuted for their professional or political activities, asserting that all rights and freedoms are guaranteed within the country.

The next court hearing in the "Toplum TV Case" is scheduled for August 4.