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ALERT – ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN

15 January 2009

Television crews come under gunfire in Agdam region

SOURCE: Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS), Baku

(IRFS/IFEX) – According to information provided to IRFS by Lider television
station correspondent Habil Aslanoglu, on 14 January 2009, at approximately
4:30 p.m. (local time), employees of the Azad Azerbaijan (ATV) and Lider
television stations came under gunfire on the border between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, in the Agdam region of Azerbaijan. In addition to Aslanoglu
himself, the other media personnel affected by the incident were ATV
correspondent Hafiz Huseynoglu, ATV camera operator Eldaniz Valiyev and
Lider camera operator Ilgar Salmanoglu.

According to Aslanoglu, the journalists were assaulted by Armenian military
personnel while they were attempting to film the construction of a church
by Armenians in the occupied Shahbulag village. The journalists were able
to escape from the area when the Azerbaijani military responded with
gunfire.

As a result of a war that took place between Azerbaijan and Armenia from
1992 to 1994, the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is now occupied by
Armenia. Although a cease-fire was declared on 12 May 1994, no peace accord
has been signed.

For further information contact Emin Huseynov, Chair, or Sarah Paulsworth,
Public Relations Coordinator, IRFS, 8 R. Behbudov St., Apt. 85/86, Baku,
Azerbaijan, tel: +99 412 418 0334, +99 450 398 4838; e-mail:
irfs.az@gmail.com, Skype ID: irfs.az, Internet:

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of IRFS.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit IRFS.
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