OSCE URGES AZERBAIJAN TO FREE IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS
Panorama.am
17:33 14/10/2009
According to the foreign media, a top European official who monitors
freedom of the media has urged authorities in Azerbaijan to release
imprisoned journalists and protect those working for the news media.
Miklos Haraszti, media freedom representative for the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev to pardon jailed journalists. Haraszti told a news
conference in the capital, Baku, Wednesday that he believes charges
against several imprisoned journalists are "fabricated."
Earlier this week, Haraszti met with Azerbaijani officials in Baku,
where he said journalists must not be made criminally liable for
their professionalism. He also said efforts to coerce the media,
including punishing journalists for defamation, must stop.
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said Azerbaijan is pressing
on with democratic reforms and will cooperate with international
organizations.
Members of Azerbaijan’s media had appealed to the OSCE representative
to intercede with officials to release three jailed journalists.
Chief editor of Gundalik Azerbaijan and Realni Azerbaijan newspapers,
Eynulla Fatullayev, is serving the longest prison sentence of
eight-and-one-half years on charges of making terrorist threats and
inciting nationalist hatred. He went on a hunger strike starting March
26. Several journalists and opposition party members have joined his
hunger strike in a show of solidarity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
