Journalist Eldaniz Elgun receives anonymous death threats over banned novel
(IRFS/IFEX) – Independent journalist Eldaniz Elgun reported to the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety on 27 February 2009 that he has received death threats over his banned novel. Elgun said the threats are related to his book, “13 Days 1001 Nights.” The journalist said that unidentified people have been calling him to warn him […]
IRFS journalist Idrak Abbasov briefly detained, mistreated by National Security Ministry personnel in Nakhchivan
(IRFS/IFEX) – The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) is extremely concerned about the health and well-being of its journalist and researcher Idrak Abbasov. Abbasov has been hospitalised with heart problems since 20 February 2009, when he returned to Baku from Nakhchivan. Abbasov said that he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure by […]
Election Monitoring Centre founder Anar Mammedli seeks legal action to unblock his website
(IRFS/IFEX) – The founder of the Election Monitoring Center, Anar Mammedli, has filed a lawsuit in the Sabayil District Court against the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. “After the abolishment of the state registration of the Election Monitoring Center (EMC) by the Khatai District Court on 14 May 2008, the website http://www.emc-az.org , belonging […]
Correspondents in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic receive death threats; IRFS correspondent assaulted
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 30 January 2009, Elman Abbasov and Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev, correspondents for the IRFS in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and Malahet Nasibova, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Turan News Agency Nakhchivan correspondent, addressed a letter of complaint to the Nakhchivan City Police Department and the republic’s Ministry of the Interior regarding threatening calls […]
Journalists Sabuhi Mammadli and Ervin Mirza face lawsuit filed by assistant police chief
(IRFS/IFEX) – Assistant Chief Mammadmusa Huseynov, of the Davachi Region police department, sued “Yeni Musavat” newspaper employees Sabuhi Mammadli and Ervin Mirza. Mammadli told the IRFS, “Mammadmusa Huseynov filed a special lawsuit against us in the Binagadi District Court under articles 147 (libel) and 148 (insult) of the Criminal Code.” Huseynov told IRFS via phone […]
Correspondents harassed, assaulted in Sadarak region
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 16 January 2009, IRFS Nakhchivan regional correspondents Hakimeldosu Mehdiyev, Elman Abbasov and Mehman Mehdiyev and Radio Liberty and “Turan” information agency correspondent Malahat Nasibova went to the village of Heydarabad in the Sadarak region to investigate recent incidents that have taken place there. They wanted to visit the residence of Ismayil Huseynova, […]
Television crews come under gunfire in Agdam region
(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 […]
Minister sues activist for slander
(IRFS/IFEX) – The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) strongly condemns the lawsuit filed against Institute for Peace and Democracy director Leyla Yunus by the minister of the interior, Ramil Usubov, and considers this step the beginning of a campaign of repression to silence human rights defenders. On 13 January 2008, Interior Minister Usobov […]
Journalist injured during protest, camera confiscated, broken
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 7 January 2009 “Yeni Musavat” newspaper correspondent Afgan Mukhtarli faced pressure when police dispersed a group of religious people who had gathered in front of the Israeli Embassy to Azerbaijan to protest the incidents in Gaza. According to Mukhitarli, the protest, which was conducted without permission from Baku City Executive Power, was […]
Journalist’s request for release from prison rejected
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 29 December 2008, in Prison #10, under the chairmanship of Narimanov District Judge Elshana Valiyeva, a hearing was held to consider the possibility of an early release for “Azadlig” newspaper satirist and journalist Sakit Zahidov. Zahidov’s defence lawyer Isakhan Ashurov told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety that the hearing took […]
IRFS condemns decision to cease FM broadcasts of foreign radio stations, calls for decision to be reversed
(IRFS/IFEX) – The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) resolutely condemns the 30 December 2008 decision of Azerbaijan’s National Television and Radio Council (NTRC) to cease the FM broadcasts of Azerbaijan’s three foreign radio broadcasters, Radio Free Europe (RFERL), Voice of America (VOA) and the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), as of 1 January 2009, […]
Journalists face criminal lawsuit brought against them by politician
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 30 December 2008, in the Binagadi District Court chaired by Judge M. Kazimov, a hearing was conducted into a lawsuit brought by the chairman of the Adalat Party, parliamentarian Ilyas Ismayilov, against journalist Faramaz Novruzoglu (Allahverdiyev), an advisor for “Nota” newspaper, and Ilham Tumas (Agayev), the editor-in-chief of “24 Saat” newspaper. The […]
Babak region resident sentenced to 18 months in prison for defamation
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 3 December 2008, during a hearing conducted in the Nakhchivan City Court, 58-year-old Novruz Aliyev, a resident of the village of Gahab, in the Babak region, was found guilty of defamation under article 147.2 of the Republic of Azerbaijan Criminal Code. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The lawsuit against […]
Columnist allegedly assaulted by chairman of liberation organisation
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 12 December 2008, “Yeni Musavat” columnist Zamin Haji (Hajiyev) was allegedly beaten by the chairman of the Karabakh Liberation Organisation (KLO), Akif Nagi. Zamin Haji told IRFS that he called Akif Nagi “eke” (the word for brother in Uzbek) in his article, which displeased Akif Nagi. “Akif demanded that I stop writing […]
Twenty-five IFEX members call for government to rescind decision to ban foreign radio stations
(IRFS/IFEX) – The following is a joint appeal by 25 IFEX members: JOINT STATEMENT: We, the undersigned organisations promoting and defending freedom of expression worldwide, join the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) in condemning the recent decision to cease the broadcasts of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free […]
Often-persecuted editor being followed
(IRFS/IFEX) – According to information received by the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS), the assistant editor-in-chief of “Gundalik Baki” newspaper, Uzeyir Jafarov, is being followed. Habil Valiyev, the editor-in-chief and founder of “Gundalik Baki”, told IRFS that Jafarov was followed on the evening of 11 November 2008 on his way home. “As he […]