`Zerkalo’: Human Rights Watch, About Aggravation of Situation Relating
to Freedom of Speech in Azerbaijan

A. Rashidoglu

_www.zerkalo.az_ ()
01.03.2007

The above mentioned human rights organization calls on to remove
hostility on the part of state towards mass media. Policy of
Azerbaijani authorities in the field of freedom of speech has been
criticized again, this time on the part of respectable international
organization Human Rights Watch.

European and Central Asia executive director at Human Rights Watch,
Holly Cartner, applied to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, in connection with this problem.

Appeal letter states that Human Rights Watch is concerned about the
fact that opposition or independent journalists often get threatening
calls after publication of critical materials. Journalists said that
threatening calls demanding to stop journalistic investigation
preceded attacks. Organization regrets about widespread impunity,
even if there is information allowing to identify personality of ones
who made calls.

Appeal also reads that currently rapid increase of slander related
proceedings instituted against journalists by state officials is being
observed.

In 2006 only more than 10 suits have been filed against `Azadlig’
newspaper. Newspaper repeatedly mentioned in cases relating to slander
or abuses of officials. Total sum of fines exceeded 300,000 US
dollars. Some journalists including editor-in-chief of `Milli Yol’,
Shakhin Agabeyli, and editor-in-chief of `24 Saat’, Fikret
Faramazoglu, were severely sentenced up to imprisonment. After
serving 7 out of 12 months of imprisonment term Agabeyly was released.
With regards to others fines are imposed just like in the case of
editor-in-chief of `Real Azerbaijan’, Eynulla Fatullayev, and
political scientist from Baku, Zardusht Alizade.

When the said letter was being prepared Human Rights Watch learnt that
on January 30, 2007, journalists of newspaper `Nota Bene’, Faramaz
Novruzoglu and Sardar Alibeyli were sentenced to 2 years of
imprisonment and 1,5 year of correctional works. Slander related suit
was filed on application of Minister of Internal Affairs and head of
State Committee on the issues of Azerbaijanis living in foreign
countries. Criminal sanction for slander is unequal reaction of
government when the matter concerns significant issues or public
figures. Moreover, discriminative operation of law against independent
or opposition journalists took place in cases under
consideration. Such sharp escalation of criminal and civil slander
related cases negatively affects mass media in the country. At the
same time majority suits are filed against opposition editions. On
June 23, 2006, journalist of `Azadlig’ newspaper and famous satirist,
Mirza Sakit Zakhidov, was arrested for politically motivated and
fabricated accusation of keeping drugs. On October 4, Court on grave
crimes sentenced him to 3 years of imprisonment. On December 15,
Appeal Court hasn’t changed the sentence. Referring to local and
international observers, suit against Zakhidov aimed to stop
publishing his articles in newspaper and to punish him for writing
satiric verses about governmental officials.

Human Rights Watch also points to the cases of threat to close
independent mass media in Azerbaijan or eviction of publishing houses
from the buildings, namely, closing of TV channel ANS in November last
year and eviction of opposition newspapers `Azadlig’ and `Bizim Yol’
and `Turan’ information agency.

The above cases show growth of hostility on the part of state to
independent and opposition mass media what jeopardizes security of
independent journalists in Azerbaijan, – appeal reads.