On March 6, Azerbaijani law enforcement officers searched the Toplum TV internet publication office and sealed its doors. Following the search, a criminal case was initiated against individuals detained at the Toplum TV and III Republican Platform offices on charges of smuggling. 

The detained individuals, including Farid Ismayilova, Mushfiq Jabbara, Ali Zeynala, Ramil Babayeva, Elmir Abbasova, and Ilkin Amrahova, were implicated in the alleged smuggling activity. Notably, Toplum TV employees and interns, namely Parvana Gurbanli, Alya Aghayeva, Jeyhuna Hasanli, Jamila Azimova, Fidan Alicanova, Javid Ramazanov, Gulyetar Mahmudova, Samir Agazade, and Sadiq Mammadov, were released starting from approximately 22:00 [local time].

Khadija Ismayilova, the editor-in-chief of Toplum TV, emphasized the detention of several individuals associated with the Institute of Democratic Initiatives and Toplum TV.

According to lawyer Shahla Humbatova, Akif Gurbanov was detained as a suspect under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling) and expressed that documents were confiscated during the search of his residence. He maintained that police officers had allegedly planted 30,000 euros at the office of the III Republican Platform before seizing it.

The US State Department expressed profound concern regarding the Azerbaijani police raid on Toplum TV's office and the subsequent arrests of its employees and civil society activists. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller condemned the intimidation and persecution of journalists, civil society voices, and opposition figures, urging Azerbaijan to cease repression and release individuals detained for political reasons. 

The British Embassy in Azerbaijan echoed concerns regarding the recent arrests, particularly those of Toplum TV journalists and a member of the 3rd Republic political movement. In a statement, the Embassy emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and fundamental human rights for all individuals, including those recently detained by Azerbaijani authorities.

Notably, Toplum TV, founded in October 2016, operates as an independent information resource dedicated to providing objective news coverage while championing human rights, freedoms, and freedom of expression. Additionally, it serves as a platform for journalism training under the "Democracy School" program of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives (IDI).