Authorities in Azerbaijan have arrested six journalists on allegations of smuggling, according to reports from an independent news outlet based in Azerbaijan.

Among those detained, five were associated with Meydan TV, which operates out of Berlin and has faced a ban on its website within the country since 2019. The arrested individuals include Aynur Ganbarova, Aytaj Ahmadova, Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli, and Aysel Umudova. The sixth journalist, Ramin Jabrayilzade, is described as an independent reporter.

Meydan TV has expressed concerns regarding ongoing harassment by the Azerbaijani government and has vehemently denied the accusations made against its staff. Reports indicate that many of the detained journalists have had their homes raided, with authorities confiscating their equipment and personal items.

Local media sources noted that the arrests occurred on Friday evening in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. According to Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry, Jabrayilzade was detained due to alleged involvement in the illegal importation of foreign currency.

Legal representatives for Umudova, Ahmadova, and Agayeva later confirmed that these journalists are being charged with conspiracy to smuggle illegal goods into the country. Should they be found guilty, the potential sentences range from five to eight years in prison. Ahmadova’s lawyer, Javad Javadov, stated that police intended to hold her for a 48-hour period, adding that she has asserted her innocence and emphasized that being a journalist should not be considered a crime.

In response to the crackdown, Meydan TV remarked, “Despite these attempts to silence us, we at Meydan TV have continued our work as journalists, publicized the events taking place in the country and the problems of ordinary citizens, and have done this all free of censorship.”

Azerbaijan’s human rights track record has been problematic for many years, with the government frequently targeting independent journalists, activists, and political figures.

Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in the 1990s, elections in Azerbaijan have frequently been criticized for lacking fairness and freedom. The most recent parliamentary elections held in September were described by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as taking place in a “restrictive” atmosphere, with a low voter turnout of 37% and no opposition parties securing any seats.