RAMIN JABRAYILZADE
News journalist working for Meydan TV; imprisoned under bogus charges.
About Ramin Jabrayilzade
Ramin Jabrayilzade, known professionally as Deko, is an Azerbaijani journalist born on 18 February 1987 in Port-Ilyich, Lankaran District, Azerbaijan SSR, now known as Liman.
Deko received his education at the Azerbaijan Socio-Political University and began his career in 2008 as a correspondent for the Azerbaijani newspaper Azadlıq (Freedom). After the newspaper’s closure in 2016, he worked for RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) from 2016 to 2023. Since 2023, he has worked for the Berlin-based media outlet Meydan TV, focusing on political coverage.1
His career includes a history of legal and physical pressure. In March 2020, during the forceful expulsion of journalists from a rally, police injured Deko by kicking him on the arm and leg and stepping on his stomach. In 2011, he was reportedly abducted and beaten. In 2012, Deko was fined for allegedly defaming a pro-government MP by writing an article in which he cited residents’ criticism of the MP’s performance. In the same year, he received a refusal to provide the requested information about the distribution of state-funded apartments by presidential decree, other state housing funds, and the Baku city executive authority’s power over them. Deko brought this case to the European Court of Human Rights. On 15 October 2025, the Court found a violation of his rights regarding the denial of a freedom of information request concerning the distribution of state-funded apartments.2,3,4
Case description
Ramin Jabrayilzade was detained on 6 December 2024 upon his arrival at Baku airport from Georgia, where he had been covering pro-EU protests. Reportedly, he was held overnight and interrogated without the presence of his lawyer. His lawyer noted bruises under his eyes, suggesting that he was subjected to physical pressure while in police custody.5
He was initially charged under Criminal Code Article 206.3.2 for allegedly smuggling foreign currency committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy. He denied the charges, claiming police fabricated the allegations by adding their own money to the amount that they allegedly seized from him. On 8 December 2024, the Khatai District Court placed him under four months of pre-trial detention. The court has repeatedly extended his pre-trial detention and rejected the defence motion to transfer him to house arrest.6,7,8
On 28 August 2025, the charges were amended. Deko and his co-defendants were charged under seven additional Criminal Code Articles. These expanded charges include illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and forgery of documents, with a potential penalty of up to eight years in prison.9
Deko is currently detained in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 3. Political prisoners in this detention facility reportedly face psychological pressure and violations of their basic human rights. On 12 December 2025, the Court allowed the transfer of Jabrayilzade to Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1.
The Meydan TV criminal trial officially began in December 2025 at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes.
References
- https://www.meydan.tv/en/article/european-court-rules-in-favor-of-azerbaijani-journalist-ramin-deko/
- https://oc-media.org/dozens-protest-in-baku-against-arrest-of-azerbaijani-turkish-billionaire-in-turkey/
- https://www.hrw.org/report/2013/09/01/tightening-screws/azerbaijans-crackdown-civil-society-and-dissent
- https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/68975
- https://cpj.org/2024/12/azerbaijani-authorities-detain-at-least-6-journalists-on-currency-smuggling-charges/
- https://jam-news.net/sunday-arrests-7-detained-in-meydan-tv-case/
- https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/azerbaijani-journalists-activists-arrested-in-smuggling-and-extortion-cases-spark-international-concern.html
- https://www.irfs.org/news-feed/the-appeals-court-keeps-ramin-deko-in-custody/
- https://www.meydan.tv/en/article/charges-in-the-meydan-tv-case-have-been-intensified/
Resources about Ramin Jabrayilzade
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