On March 6, police stormed the office of Toplum TV, an online news platform in Baku. While the office was searched, the police questioned some fifteen staff members. Among those detained were interns and the tech team. While nine were released after questioning, at least six other journalists were sent to pre-trial custody on bogus smuggling charges.
Shortly after detention, social media accounts belonging to Toplum TV were compromised.
As a result, all 3600 videos on Toplum TV’s YouTube channel were deleted.
Previously Toplum TV’s Facebook page was hacked via SMS interception.