In a 1 August letter to Azeri President Haidar Aliev, CPJ
expressed concern at the recent closure of "Avrazia" (see previous
IFEX alert of 6 August), and at recent press reports of censorship
exercised by both the government's Committee for the Protection of
Secrets and by the President's office.





**For background to "Avrazia" closure, see previous
IFEX alert of 6 August 1996; for background to Yasar
Oglu detention, see IFEX alert of 26 July 1996**

In early July 1996, Presidential censors demanded the addresses
and phone numbers of everyone working for the opposition newspaper
"Azadlig", and threatened to ban the newspaper until the
information was supplied. Editor Gunduz Tahirli condemned the
request as an attempt to intimidate his staff and refused to
comply with the order.

On 31 July, censors banned the latest issue of "Azadlig". Chief
Censor Jahangir Ildrimzade had previously pulled an article on
corruption in the Defense Ministry scheduled for the 16 May issue.

CPJ is also disturbed by the continuing detention of Metin Yasar
Oglu of the newspaper "Mukhalifat", arrested on 26 July on unknown
charges. According to colleagues, Yasar Oglu was covering a
demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy in the Azerbaijan
capital of Baku, at which citizens were protesting against
reported mistreatment of Azeris in Moscow and other Russian
cities. Yasar Oglu was detained as local police dispersed the
rally; his camera equipment was damaged and confiscated (see IFEX
alert).

Recommended Action

Send appeals to President Haidar Aliev:

expressing fears that a new government crackdown on the
independent press is underway

noting that Article 14 of the Azerbaijan Mass Media Law clearly
states that only the publication's founders or courts of law may
halt publication of a newspaper, and that the Ministry of
Information and the Press may only file suit against a publication
in court

urging that he ensure that "Avrasia" and "Azadlig" are allowed to
resume publication without hindrance

strongly urging that he secure the immediate release of Metin
Yasar Oglu and the return of his equipment, and refrain from
further police action against the independent press

Appeals To

His Excellency Haidar Aliev
President of Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
Fax: +8922 92 17 63 or +994 12 93 56 43

Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.