RSF Calls for Urgent Medical Care and Release of Jailed Meydan TV Journalist Aytac Tapdig
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for urgent medical treatment and the release of imprisoned Meydan TV journalist Aytac Tapdig (Ahmadova), warning that her health is rapidly deteriorating in detention.
In a statement, the press freedom organization said Tapdig was being denied the medical examination and treatment she urgently requires.
“Aytac Tapdig’s health condition is deteriorating rapidly. Ahmadova, who has been unlawfully detained since December 2024, is not receiving the urgent medical care she needs,” RSF said.
The organization demanded that the journalist be provided with immediate treatment and released from detention.
During a July 4 hearing in the Meydan TV case, Tapdig’s lawyer, Javad Javadov, said the defense had sent a letter to the Main Medical Department on June 19 regarding her health problems but had received no response.
Tapdig told the court that she had used 80 bottles of nasal decongestant spray during her 20 months in detention and said prison conditions had seriously affected her ability to breathe.
Aytac Ahmadova, who is professionally known as Aytac Tapdig, was detained on December 6, 2024. Other Meydan TV employees arrested on the same day included Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzada), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh), Aysel Umudova, Khayala Aghayeva and Natig Javadli, as well as civil society representative Ulvi Tahirov.
They were initially charged under Article 206.3.2 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, concerning smuggling committed by a group of people acting in prior conspiracy.
Several other journalists were later arrested in connection with the case. They included Argument.az editor-in-chief and Meydan TV contributor Shamshad Aghayev (Agha) on February 5, 2025; Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli) on February 20; Fatima Movlamli on February 28; Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) on May 7; and Ahmad Mukhtar on August 27.
On August 28, the accusations in the Meydan TV case were expanded, and those detained were charged under a total of seven articles of the Criminal Code.
The journalists deny all accusations and say their prosecution is politically motivated and intended to silence independent media and critical voices in Azerbaijan.
