Azerbaijan | 19.10.2007

Nakhchivan authorities harass opposition journalist’s family

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the constant harassment of
journalist Hakim Eldostu Mehdiyev’s family by local authorities in the
autonomous republic of Nakhchivan since his detention for five days
last month. Mehdiyev is regional correspondent for the Baku-based
opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat.

`Mehdiyev’s relatives have been threatened with reprisals and have
been subjected to repeated intimidation by the security forces,’ the
press freedom organisation said. `We support his appeal to President
Ilham Aliev for guarantees for his and his family’s safety.’

Since his arrest on 23 September, his brother’s tea room has been
demolished and family members has been warned they could be beaten or
kidnapped if they complained to international organisations. Mehdiyev
is meanwhile now banned from leaving Nakhchivan, which is separated
from the rest of Azerbaijan bya strip of Armenian territory.
Exasperated by all the harassment, Mehdiyev has written to President
Aliev and to Nakhchivan’s leaders saying he will be forced to leave
the country and request political asylum abroad if he and his family
are not given guarantees of security.

Mehdiyev’s ordeal began on 22 September, when he was forced into a car
by national security ministry agents and was held all day in a
ministry building where, according to Reporters Without Borders’
sources, he was beaten because of his reports about gas and
electricity problems in the region.

After his release, he only had a few hours to warn his family and try
unsuccessfully to see a doctor about his injuries before a court had
him arrested the next day and sentenced him to 15 days in prison for
`resisting the police at the time of his arrest.’

Mehdiyev was released on 27 September after several international
organisations including Reporters Without Borders interceded on his
behalf.He currently needs treatment for his injuries and is unable to
work.

© Reporters Without Borders – 47, rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris – France