Toplum TV has announced the suspension of its activities in Azerbaijan, Turan reports. Pressures on media in Azerbaijan, which have intensified over the last year and a half, also affected Toplum TV.

Its founder and several employees have been arrested, criminal cases opened against them on far-fetched charges of “smuggling,” and other employees banned from leaving the country.

The reason for the pressure on the staff is that Toplum TV covers citizens' problems and gives a platform to people with different political views.

“Unfortunately, the pressure on the media makes it impossible for 'Toplum TV' to operate in the country. Therefore, from now on Toplum TV will carry out its work through journalists living outside the country. We hope that our readers will be sympathetic to this decision,” Toplum TV said in a statement.

Nine journalists of Toplum TV and its partner organization Institute for Democratic Initiatives were detained in March last year. Seven were arrested for 4 months on smuggling charges and two placed under police supervision.

On January 17, all were charged with six more Articles of the Criminal Code on economic crimes. Journalist Farid Ismayilov, who had been under police supervision, was also arrested.

Last week, Toplum TV editor Shahnaz Beylargyzy was also arrested in a new case separately from the Toplum TV case.