Human rights defenders demanded an examination of Aytaç Tapdıg due to breathing problems.
Human rights defenders from the Wallenberg Center demanded that arrested journalist Aytaç Tapdıg of Meydan TV be provided with specialized examinations and medical procedures due to chronic breathing problems. Her mother reported that the journalist still does not receive effective medical assistance.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on August 5, human rights defenders stated that the arrested journalist Aytaç Tapdıg of Meydan TV does not receive effective medical assistance for breathing problems.
In December 2024, six journalists from Meydan TV, including Aytaç Tapdıg, were detained and then arrested on charges of currency smuggling. They linked the criminal case to their professional activities. By August 2025, 11 people had been arrested in the Meydan TV case. At the end of August, it became known that the investigation was completed, and a 12th suspect appeared in the case – photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar. Meanwhile, the arrested journalists were charged with new accusations under seven more criminal articles. On December 12, 2025, at the first hearing in the Meydan TV case, the Baku court refused to close the criminal case and release the accused. On July 17, it became known that Meydan TV and Abzas Media were awarded the "Pioneer of Free Media – 2026" prize.
The continued detention of Tapdıg is accompanied by serious and worsening threats to her health and well-being, stated the International [........] Wallenberg.
"In August 2026, reports emerged that the authorities were denying her the necessary specialized medical assistance due to a serious chronic breathing disorder caused by a deviated septum, despite repeated appeals from her lawyer and relatives," the organization's statement said, the translation of which was done by a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
During her 21 months in custody, Tapdıg has been forced to use more than 80 bottles of nasal spray, as she cannot breathe normally without it, the Wallenberg Center indicated.
Increased humidity in the pre-trial detention center, built on a drained lake, exacerbates Tapdıg's breathing problems. The journalist needs an examination by an ENT specialist, as well as an MRI and CT scan, her relatives and lawyers stated in the statement.
"After international human rights organizations drew increased attention to Aytaç Tapdıg's health condition, the authorities sent a doctor, who is not a specialist in otorhinolaryngology, to her in the detention center. After the journalist was visited by this doctor, the authorities stated that she had 'already received medical assistance'. The authorities should not attempt to manipulate the situation surrounding Aytaç Tapdıg's medical care, but instead are obliged to provide her with specialized examinations and other necessary medical procedures that allow her to breathe normally," emphasized the Wallenberg Center.
Tapdıg still does not receive effective medical assistance and has not been examined by relevant specialists, her mother Dilruba Amanova reported. The judicial investigation into the Meydan TV case continues, and judges ignore the lawyers' petitions to create conditions for proper medical assistance for the accused, Amanova stated.
International intervention is necessary to ensure Tapdıg receives medical assistance and is released, human rights defenders believe.
"The health and safety of Aytaç Tapdıg cannot depend solely on the discretion of the authorities who are holding her in custody. Her continued detention requires urgent international intervention and measures to ensure her immediate access to medical care and her unconditional release," the statement said.
The Wallenberg Center also called for the release of Tapdıg and other imprisoned journalists and the dropping of charges against them, which human rights defenders consider politically motivated.
"The case of Aytaç Tapdıg has become one of the bright symbols of the struggle for press freedom in Azerbaijan. We join other human rights organizations around the world in calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure her immediate access to proper medical care, drop politically motivated charges against her and all imprisoned journalists, and unconditionally release them. Journalism is not a crime. No journalist should be imprisoned for doing their job in the public interest," the statement said.
"Caucasian Knot" currently has no comment from the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan.