Azerbaijan Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

For journalists, coverage of political unrest proves deadly

December 20, 2011 12:01 AM EST

Journalists die at high rates while covering protests in the Arab world and elsewhere. Photographers and freelancers appear vulnerable. Pakistan is again the deadliest nation. A CPJ special report

Imprisonments jump worldwide, and Iran is worst

December 8, 2011 12:01 AM EST

Stark regional differences are seen as jailings grow significantly in the Middle East and North Africa. Dozens of journalists are held without charge, many in secret prisons. A CPJ special report

Video: Freeing Eynulla Fatullayev

December 8, 2011 12:00 AM EST

In this video companion to CPJ’s 2011 census of imprisoned journalists, Azerbaijani editor Eynulla Fatullayev describes his own time in prison and how international advocacy can make a difference in winning the freedom of jailed reporters, editors, photojournalists, and bloggers. (4:47) Read the special report “Imprisonments jump worldwide” and view our database of journalists in…

CPJ's annual International Press Freedom Awards dinner took place at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. (Michael Nagle/Getty Images for CPJ)

Awardees to their colleagues: Buck the system

November 23, 2011 11:49 AM EST

The Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria might seem like an odd venue to stage a call for resistance. Nine hundred people in tuxedos and gowns. Champagne and cocktails. Bill Cunningham snapping photos. This combination is generally more likely to coax a boozy nostalgia than foment a revolution. But the journalists honored last night at…

Azerbaijani journalist’s death requires investigation

November 23, 2011 8:06 AM EST

New York, November 23, 2011– The demise of freelance journalist Rafiq Tagi in a Baku hospital today following his stabbing four days ago by unknown assailants, must be fully investigated, said the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Independent editor imprisoned in Azerbaijan

November 1, 2011 5:00 PM EDT

New York, November 1, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the prosecution and imprisonment of Avaz Zeynally, editor-in-chief of the independent daily Khural, and calls on Azerbaijani authorities to release him immediately.

Citing ethnicity, Azerbaijan bars photojournalist

July 7, 2011 2:58 PM EDT

New York, July 7, 2011–Diana Markosian, a freelance photographer for Bloomberg Markets magazine was denied entry to Azerbaijan last week by authorities who cited her ethnicity as a reason, international news reports said.

Two foreign reporters brutally assaulted in Azerbaijan

June 16, 2011 3:51 PM EDT

New York, June 16, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the vicious beating in Baku of international journalists Amanda Erickson and Celia Davies, and calls on the authorities to bring their attackers to justice.

Video: Eynulla Fatullayev home at last

May 27, 2011 1:52 PM EDT

Eynulla Fatullayev is finally home after four long years in an Azerbaijani jail. “It’s a miracle for me,” he told U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL filmed the editor at home immediately after his release:

At last, a free man: Fatullayev talks with CPJ

May 27, 2011 8:02 AM EDT

Independent editor Eynulla Fatullayev, a CPJ award recipient, spent four years in prison on spurious charges of defamation, terrorism, tax evasion, and drug possession. All were fabricated to prevent him from publishing his searing exposés critical of the Azerbaijani government. On Thursday, after years of intense advocacy by CPJ and others, Fatullayev received a presidential…