Committee to Protect Journalists - Azerbaijan tag:cpj.org,2008-09-16://1 2012-04-18T20:32:14Z Movable Type 4.34-en Several reporters assaulted, one hospitalized in Baku tag:cpj.org,2012://1.19067 2012-04-18T20:14:21Z 2012-04-18T20:32:14Z New York, April 18, 2012--Azerbaijani authorities must promptly investigate and bring to justice perpetrators of today's brutal assault in Baku on five independent reporters, including award-winning journalist Idrak Abbasov, who is now hospitalized, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.... Committee to Protect Journalists Idrak Abbasov was hospitalized Wednesday. (IRFS)

New York, April 18, 2012--Azerbaijani authorities must promptly investigate and bring to justice perpetrators of today's brutal assault in Baku on five independent reporters, including award-winning journalist Idrak Abbasov, who is now hospitalized, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.

]]> In Azerbaijan, crackdown on press as contest nears tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18985 2012-04-02T17:03:19Z 2012-04-24T13:34:22Z Dear President Aliyev: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply disturbed by the recent wave of journalist imprisonments in Azerbaijan. With at least six journalists currently behind bars, Azerbaijan is now among the top 10 global jailers of the press, ahead of Uzbekistan and just behind Ethiopia, according to CPJ research. This crackdown comes in the run-up to Eurovision, the international song contest that Baku is hosting in May, which will gather journalists from more than 40 participating countries and fix the world's eyes on Azerbaijan. Committee to Protect Journalists April 2, 2012

His Excellency Ilham Aliyev
President of Azerbaijan
The President Palace
Baku, Istiglaliyyat Street, 19
Republic of Azerbaijan

Via facsimile: + 99 412 492 35 43, 492 06 25
E-mail: office@pa.gov.az

Dear President Aliyev,

The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply disturbed by the recent wave of journalist imprisonments in Azerbaijan. With at least six journalists currently behind bars, Azerbaijan is now among the top 10 global jailers of the press, ahead of Uzbekistan and just behind Ethiopia, according to CPJ research. This crackdown comes in the run-up to Eurovision, the international song contest that Baku is hosting in May, which will gather journalists from more than 40 participating countries and fix the world's eyes on Azerbaijan.

Your government has used significant resources to polish the country's image ahead of the Eurovision contest and make it appealing to its international guests. However, we believe your efforts would be meaningless if the government continues to crack down on independent voices in the country. By implementing systematic reform, and urging the relevant authorities to investigate potential abuses of power, we believe you could stem the deterioration of press freedom in Azerbaijan.

According to CPJ research, your government is holding in custody editor Avaz Zeynally and journalist Aidyn Dzhaniyev of the independent daily Khural; reporter Anar Bayramli and his driver, Ramil Dadashev, from the Iranian broadcaster Sahar TV; editor Ramin Bayramov of the Islamic news website Islam-Azeri; and directors Zaur Guliyev and Vugar Gonagov of the regional TV channel Khayal. We are attaching a more detailed list of the imprisoned journalists to this letter.

The journalists have been imprisoned on fabricated, politicized charges--ranging from hooliganism and drug possession to incitement to mass disorder--that stemmed from their work, CPJ research shows. Two of them have already been convicted and are serving prison terms, while the others are jailed pending a trial, according to CPJ sources.

President Aliyev, we call on you to exercise the high authority of your office and instruct the relevant authorities to investigate the cases of these journalists who languish in jail simply because of their critical reporting. We urge you to uphold your declared commitment to international press freedom standards and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of these journalists.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We await your reply.

Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

Journalists imprisoned in Azerbaijan:

  • Aidyn Dzhaniyev, a reporter for the independent daily Khural, was imprisoned in September and sentenced to three years in jail on hooliganism charges after clerics in Lenkoran, a city in southern Azerbaijan, accused him of breaking a mosque window and insulting a woman, news reports said. The journalist denied the accusations. An independent investigation by local journalists, cited by the independent Azerbaijani news agency Turan, concluded that Dzhaniyev's charges stemmed from his reporting on authorities' alleged involvement in drug trafficking in Lenkoran.

    After his appeal was denied, Dzhaniyev requested a Supreme Court review of the case, which is pending, Emin Huseynov, director of the Baku-based Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) told CPJ.

  • Avaz Zeynally, editor of Khural, was sentenced to three months in jail on extortion charges in October, and in January, his term was extended for another three months, according to news reports. The charges against him stemmed from a criminal claim filed by a parliament member that alleged the journalist tried to extort money from her. Zeynally denied the accusations and said the official tried to bribe him in exchange for positive press coverage. The woman left the country after filing the complaint against Zeynally and could not be reached for comment by local journalists. Her words remain the sole evidence against the editor, who awaits trial in Baku and faces up to 12 years in jail if convicted.

  • Authorities imprisoned Ramin Bayramov, a reporter for the Islamic news website Islam-Azeri, last August and convicted him in March on separate counts of illegal possession of drugs and weapons, the independent regional news website Kavkazsky Uzel reported. Bayramov denied the accusations in court, and said he was prosecuted in retaliation for his journalism, Kavkazsky Uzel said. Islam-Azeri has criticized the government's repression of independent religious practitioners in Azerbaijan. Although authorities initially charged Bayramov with activities hostile to the country and "incitement to mass disorder," they failed to prove the charges and amended them to drugs and weapons possession.

    Although the journalist told the Baku court repeatedly that the drugs and weapons were planted in his garage, he was sentenced to 18 months in jail on March 7, Kavkazsky Uzel reported.

  • Baku police detained Anar Bayramli, a reporter for the Iranian broadcaster Sahar TV, on February 22 after questioning him about his activities at work, press freedom groups reported. The police said they found heroin in the journalist's jacket, which was hanging in the station while he was being interrogated, Reuters reported. IRFS' Huseynov told CPJ that police had repeatedly intimidated the journalist, summoning him for regular "conversations" during which they pressured him to stop his reporting on human rights abuses in Azerbaijan and quit the Iranian broadcaster.

    Bayramli's driver, Ramil Dadashev, was jailed on similar charges the same day. Both men face up to three years in prison if convicted.

  • Authorities arrested Zaur Guliyev and Vugar Gonagov, directors of the regional TV channel Khayal, on March 13 and gave them two-month-long pretrial detention terms on March 22. Both journalists were charged with organizing mass disorder, and Guliyev was additionally charged with abuse of office, Kavkazsky Uzel reported. They were accused of uploading a YouTube video that showed a local governor making insulting comments to residents. The comments sparked protests and unrest in the town in early March, and resulted in his ouster, according to news reports. Authorities blamed the journalists for causing "mass unrest" by uploading the video, and jailed them.

    Guliyev and Gonagov were being held in a detention facility and were allowed to meet their lawyer only once, according to Huseynov. On Friday, after meeting with investigators, Gonagov suddenly requested a state-appointed lawyer instead of an independent one, according to IRFS.

    If convicted, Gonagov faces up to three years in jail, while Guliyev could be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

]]> Azerbaijan must halt smear campaign against reporter tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18907 2012-03-14T21:00:06Z 2012-03-15T01:17:18Z New York, March 14, 2012--Azerbaijani authorities must carry out a swift investigation into the ongoing smear campaign against journalist Khadija Ismailova, ensure her safety, and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, March 14, 2012--Azerbaijani authorities must carry out a swift investigation into the ongoing smear campaign against journalist Khadija Ismailova, ensure her safety, and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

]]> Azerbaijan must investigate threats against journalist tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18876 2012-03-08T21:24:45Z 2012-03-08T21:56:37Z Committee to Protect Journalists New York, March 8, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the threats made against Khadija Ismailova, an Azerbaijani journalist known for her investigations into high-level corruption, including secret, offshore businesses of President Ilham Aliyev's family.   

]]> Reporters injured while covering clashes in Azerbaijan tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18839 2012-03-01T21:12:56Z 2012-03-02T16:11:03Z New York, March 1, 2012--At least two journalists were injured and another five suffered the effects of tear gas while covering violent clashes between police and residents of the northeastern city of Quba, according to news reports and CPJ sources.... Committee to Protect Journalists Journalist Rashid Aliyev was injured in clashes between protesters and police in the city of Quba yesterday. (Reuters/Abbas Atilay)

New York, March 1, 2012--At least two journalists were injured and another five suffered the effects of tear gas while covering violent clashes between police and residents of the northeastern city of Quba, according to news reports and CPJ sources.

]]> Journalist for Iranian media imprisoned in Azerbaijan tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18714 2012-02-22T16:16:29Z 2012-02-22T23:47:27Z New York, February 22, 2012--Anar Bayramli, Baku-based correspondent for Iranian broadcaster Sahar TV and news agency Fars, has been imprisoned for two months pending trial over drug charges. The Committee to Protect Journalists has determined the charges are fabricated and calls on authorities in Azerbaijan to release him immediately.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, February 22, 2012--Anar Bayramli, Baku-based correspondent for Iranian broadcaster Sahar TV and news agency Fars, has been imprisoned for two months pending trial over drug charges. The Committee to Protect Journalists has determined the charges are fabricated and calls on authorities in Azerbaijan to release him immediately.

]]> Attacks on the Press in 2011: Journalists Killed tag:cpj.org,2012://1.17663 2012-02-21T21:37:14Z 2012-02-20T14:29:07Z Murders decline, but fatalities rise during coverage of protests. Photographers and freelancers pay an especially high price. Pakistan is the world's most dangerous nation.... Committee to Protect Journalists Murders decline, but fatalities rise during coverage of protests. Photographers and freelancers pay an especially high price. Pakistan is the world's most dangerous nation.

]]> Attacks on the Press in 2011: Azerbaijan tag:cpj.org,2012://1.17608 2012-02-21T05:48:00Z 2012-02-16T10:53:01Z Four years after Eynulla Fatullayev was imprisoned on a series of fabricated charges, and more than a year after the European Court of Human Rights ordered his immediate release, the editor finally walked free. In an interview with CPJ, Fatullayev praised the international community for its sustained support. Attacks... Committee to Protect Journalists Four years after Eynulla Fatullayev was imprisoned on a series of fabricated charges, and more than a year after the European Court of Human Rights ordered his immediate release, the editor finally walked free. In an interview with CPJ, Fatullayev praised the international community for its sustained support. Attacks against domestic journalists covering sensitive subjects continued with impunity. Freelance reporter Rafiq Tagi, who wrote critically about Islamist politics and government policies, died after being stabbed on a Baku street. Two reporters for the pro-opposition newspaper Azadlyg were beaten in reprisal for their work, while the editor of the independent newspaper Khural was jailed in late year on retaliatory charges. Hostility toward international reporters was on the rise: Members of a Swedish television crew working on a human rights documentary were deported; a U.S. freelancer and a British researcher were assaulted; and a photojournalist was denied entry based on her Armenian ethnicity.

]]> Azerbaijani journalist's death requires investigation tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18155 2011-11-23T13:06:34Z 2011-11-23T19:46:09Z 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.... Committee to Protect Journalists 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 tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18059 2011-11-01T21:00:08Z 2011-11-02T14:23:52Z 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.... Committee to Protect Journalists 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 tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17569 2011-07-07T18:58:35Z 2011-07-11T19:48:50Z Committee to Protect Journalists 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 tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17463 2011-06-16T19:51:03Z 2011-06-16T19:52:25Z 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.... Committee to Protect Journalists 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.

]]> CPJ welcomes release of Fatullayev tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17354 2011-05-26T17:05:32Z 2011-05-26T20:33:49Z New York, May 26, 2011--The release today of independent editor Eynulla Fatullayev in Azerbaijan on a presidential pardon is a welcome and well overdue development, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, May 26, 2011--The release today of independent editor Eynulla Fatullayev in Azerbaijan on a presidential pardon is a welcome and well overdue development, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

]]> Swedish television crew detained, deported tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17159 2011-04-18T22:05:02Z 2011-04-19T12:58:41Z New York, April 18, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed dismay today over Azerbaijan's deportation of a Swedish television crew that had arrived in Baku to film a documentary on human rights and freedom of speech. CPJ urged Azerbaijani authorities to stop obstructing the international press.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, April 18, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed dismay today over Azerbaijan's deportation of a Swedish television crew that had arrived in Baku to film a documentary on human rights and freedom of speech. CPJ urged Azerbaijani authorities to stop obstructing the international press. Another Azadlyg reporter attacked in Baku tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17079 2011-04-05T20:47:56Z 2011-04-05T20:48:54Z Committee to Protect Journalists New York, April 5, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a series of attacks in capital Baku against reporters for the pro-opposition daily Azadlyg (Freedom), and calls on Azerbaijani authorities to immediately investigate the incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

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