On June 2, 2025, the Baku Serious Crimes Court resumed reading key sections of the indictment against several journalists and activists linked to Toplum TV, underscoring the Azerbaijani government’s sustained legal pressure on independent media outlets. Presided over by Judge Azər Tağıyev, this latest session continued where the May 19 hearing left off, with prosecutors detailing alleged offenses by a new group of defendants.
Pressure on Toplum TV began on March 6, 2024, when law enforcement agencies raided its office alongside the Democratic Initiatives Institute and the Third Republic Platform. Police detained multiple employees and confiscated broadcasting equipment, marking the first major step in a sweeping crackdown on independent media. In the immediate aftermath, seven individuals—Farid Ismayilov, Elmir Abbasov, Mushfiq Cabbar, Akif Gurbanov, Ali Zeynal, Ramil Babayev, and İlkin Əmrahov—were arrested and formally charged with smuggling under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes smuggling “committed by a group of persons acting in collusion.” Farid Ismayilov and Elmir Abbasov, however, were not immediately detained after the indictment and remained free under investigation.
On March 8, 2024, the authorities expanded the arrests to include Ruslan İzzətli—a founding member of the Third Republic Platform—and Alasgar Mammadli, co-founder of Toplum TV. Both were charged under the same smuggling article. By spring 2024, a total of nine people faced criminal proceedings in what has come to be known as the “Toplum TV case.”
Following the conclusion of the initial investigation, on January 17, 2025, prosecutors significantly upgraded the charges. In addition to the original smuggling allegation, defendants now face multiple new counts, including:
- Employing workers without a labor contract (Article 162-1.1)
- Illegal entrepreneurship (Article 192.3.2)
- Money laundering (Articles 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2)
- Smuggling under more severe provisions (Article 206.4)
- Tax evasion (Article 213.2.1)
That same day, journalist Farid Ismayilov—previously under police supervision—was officially detained on the aggravated charges. In early February 2025, journalist Shahnaz Beylergizi (Hüseynova) was also arrested; on February 6, she was remanded in pre-trial detention for three months and fifteen days. By February 26, her pre-trial detention was replaced by house arrest.
New Developments at the June 2 Hearing
According to APA, during the June 2 session at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Azər Tağıyev, prosecutors read aloud the indictment’s sections pertaining to:
- Mushfiq Cabbar (Toplum TV journalist)
- Ali Zeynal and Ramil Babayev (employees of the Democratic Initiatives Institute)
- Ruslan İzzətli (founding member of the Third Republic Platform)
These readings follow the May 19 hearing, when the court examined allegations against Akif Gurbanov (head of the Democratic Initiatives Institute and spokesperson for the Third Republic Platform) and Alasgar Mammadli (Toplum TV co-founder). The prosecution now alleges that all these defendants participated in a coordinated scheme ranging from smuggling to money laundering, illegal entrepreneurship, and tax evasion.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2025, when the court is expected to address further sections of the indictment and consider any pre-trial motions from the defense.
Scope and Status of Detentions
To date, criminal proceedings have been initiated against ten individuals connected to Toplum TV and its partner organizations. As of early June 2025, the following individuals are detained in connection with the case:
- Alasgar Mammadli (Toplum TV co-founder)
- Mushfiq Cabbar (Toplum TV journalist)
- Akif Gurbanov (Democratic Initiatives Institute leader; Third Republic Platform spokesperson)
- Ruslan İzzətli (Third Republic Platform founding member)
- Ali Zeynal (Democratic Initiatives Institute employee)
- Ramil Babayev (Democratic Initiatives Institute employee)
- İlkin Əmrahov (Democratic Initiatives Institute employee)
- Farid Ismayilov (Toplum TV journalist)
Of the remaining two indicted individuals, Elmir Abbasov has been released to police supervision, and Shahnaz Beylergizi is under house arrest.
Charges Evolution and Legal Framework
- Initial Allegation (Article 206.3.2): Prosecutors originally accused the defendants of smuggling as members of a premeditated, collusive group.
- Aggravated Charges (Effective January 17, 2025): In addition to the smuggling allegation (upgraded to Article 206.4), the indictment now includes:
- Employing workers without formal contracts (Article 162-1.1)
- Illegal entrepreneurship (Article 192.3.2)
- Money laundering (Articles 193-1.3.1 & 193-1.3.2)
- Tax evasion (Article 213.2.1)
When these new charges were filed, Farid Ismayilov—already under police supervision—was arrested on January 17, 2025. Approximately three weeks later, on February 5, Shahnaz Beylergizi was detained; her pre-trial detention was quickly converted into house arrest by February 26.
Toplum TV’s management and staff have decried the proceedings as politically motivated, asserting that the government’s goal is to silence independent journalism and critical voices. In a statement released shortly after the January 2025 charge upgrades, a Toplum TV spokesperson called the investigation “a flagrant abuse of legal mechanisms aimed at dismantling any form of media dissent.”
Human-rights advocates note that since November 2023, roughly 30 journalists have been detained in Azerbaijan, with many affiliated with Meydan TV, AbzasMedia, or Toplum TV. The trend has intensified concerns about press freedom; international watchdogs have repeatedly condemned these actions as part of a systematic crackdown on independent outlets.
As a direct consequence of the mounting pressure, Toplum TV’s editorial board decided in February 2024 to relocate its operations abroad. While the station continues to publish reports via foreign-based correspondents, it has effectively ceased domestic broadcasts, underscoring how legal harassment can stifle an entire outlet’s ability to function on home soil.
With the next hearing scheduled for June 23, 2025, observers will watch closely to see whether Azerbaijani prosecutors bring the case to trial under the heightened charges or yield to mounting domestic and international criticism. Regardless of the outcome, the Toplum TV case lays bare the broader challenges facing independent journalists in Azerbaijan and signals a widening gulf between the Azerbaijani state and critical media voices.