Your trusted source

On 9 December the Azerbaijani online channel “Meydan TV” announced the termination of its activities and closing of its office in Baku, Azerbaijani news agency Turan reports.

The given reason is "stifling free speech and expression in Azerbaijan, pressure on independent media." “Meydan TV” stated that this step is to ensure the safety of its employees," the statement reads.

Note that this channel was created a year ago, with the financial support of the European Endowment for Democracy (the structure of the European Union.) The head office of the channel is located in Berlin. Its creator is Emin Milli (Abdullayev), a former political prisoner, who emigrated from Azerbaijan.

The authorities have accused the channel of spreading "lies and slander" about Azerbaijan for many times. Last time these accusations were made in the article by Ramiz Mehdiyev.

On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor's office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of 3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of “Radio Liberty”.