Two more individuals linked to an independent Azerbaijani television station were arrested on March 9 and pleaded not guilty in court in connection with a probe into smuggling, one of their lawyers said. The latest detentions brought to nine the total number facing charges connected to Toplum TV. Arrested on March 9 in Baku were Alesker Mammadli, co-founder of the station, and Ruslan Izzetli, from the Platform III Republic civil society group. The case against Toplum TV founder Akif Gurbanov, one of those arrested earlier, and his staff is the latest in a series of prosecutions that have prompted Western concern about press freedom in the South Caucasus country.
Two More Individuals Arrested In Move Against Azerbaijan TV Station
Police in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, during a raid of the Toplum TV offices on March 6.