Appeals Court Refuses to Release “Toplum TV” Founder Under House Arrest
On December 4, the Baku Court of Appeals rejected the appeal to release the founder of Toplum TV, Alesker Mamedli, under house arrest. This was reported by Nasimi Mamedli, the brother of Alesker Mamedli. Alesker Mamedli, who participated in the hearing, stated that there were no grounds for extending the detention and that there were legal reasons for his release under house arrest.
On November 27, the Khatai District Court rejected Alesker Mamedli's request to be transferred to house arrest while he was held in Baku's pre-trial detention center N1.
On October 3, the Khatai District Court extended Alesker Mamedli's detention for another three months.
In early March (6–8), nine employees of Toplum TV and its partner organization, the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, were detained. They are accused of foreign currency smuggling. Seven people were taken into custody, and two were detained by the police.
Alesker Mamedli, the founder of Toplum TV, is also accused of currency smuggling.
Politics
-
President of the Council of the European Union Antonio Costa called the head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
-
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published a set of proposals on his Facebook page aimed at establishing long-term peace in the region. Among them, he suggested that Azerbaijan should abandon mutual claims against Armenia, including in international courts. Other proposals include: refraining from using belligerent rhetoric, continuing the demarcation of borders, signing a peace agreement that is 90% ready, mutually implementing arms control, creating a joint mechanism to investigate violations of the ceasefire regime, and dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group.
-
The United States announced a new and final military aid package to Ukraine under President Joe Biden’s administration. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated in Germany that the total amount of assistance will be $500 million.
-
Baku is expected to see the construction of 10 new metro stations. President Ilham Aliyev discussed this during a meeting with journalists on January 7. The head of state noted that locations for the new metro stations have been selected, and investments will start being made this year.
Leave a review