AZERBAIJAN: JOURNALIST SUBJECTED TO HEAVY-HANDED INTERROGATION IN NAKHCHIVAN

Reporters Sans Frontieres
Feb 24 2009
France

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its concern about the press
freedom situation in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan following
the intimidation and mistreatment of journalist Idrak Abbasov of the
Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS) by a member of the
National Security Ministry (NSM) on 20 February.

"There has been a disturbing number of cases of threats and violence
against journalists in this autonomous region," Reporters Without
Borders said. "We appeal yet again to the authorities to heed our
concerns and to allow journalists to practice their trade freely
and safely."

Abbasov and Rashad Aliev, another IRFS journalist, travelled on 18
February to the western province of Nakhchivan, which borders Iran
and is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenian
territory. Two days after their arrival, Aliev got a phone call from
the NSM notifying him that he and his colleague would be received
later that day at the ministry.

When they arrived at the ministry, only Abbasov was allowed in. Once
inside, an employee blindfolded him, led him to a room and, by twisting
his arm, forced him to sit down. His equipment, including a camera,
and his files were confiscated. A second man in a military uniform
then entered room shouting: "Who are you to be seated in my presence,
stand up!" After showing him a report of his recent email messages,
the officer ordered Abbasov to leave Nakhchivan and never return.

Abbasov’s equipment was returned to him when he was freed two hours
later, but the contents of his camera’s memory card had been erased.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress