(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the exclusion on 25 February 2007 of many representatives of the independent and opposition press from the second hearing in the trial of former health minister Ali Insanov. Although it was open to the public, only journalists from TV stations and pro-governmental media outlets such as “525 Gazet”, […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the exclusion on 25 February 2007 of many representatives of the independent and opposition press from the second hearing in the trial of former health minister Ali Insanov. Although it was open to the public, only journalists from TV stations and pro-governmental media outlets such as “525 Gazet”, “Iki Shahil”, “Yeni Azerbaycan” and the news agency APA were allowed into the courtroom.
Among the journalists turned away were the correspondents of “Azadlig”, “Yeni Musavat”, and “Gundalik” newspapers, as well as the news agency Turan. All of these media outlets had quoted Insanov’s statement during the opening session, when he described the members of the ruling Yeni Azerbaycan party as “crooks.”
“We condemn this latest case of obstruction of the work of the press by the authorities,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Granting access to journalists on the basis of their support for the government is a flagrant violation of the freedom to inform and be informed.”
The court clerk asked all the journalists present to show him their press cards just before the start of the 25 February hearing. Five minutes later, he announced the names of those who would be allowed in. The journalists who were excluded in the morning were promised they would be let in for the afternoon session, but this was not the case.
Tarana Kazimova of Turan told Reporters Without Borders that in the afternoon, court officials said there were not enough seats, although many fewer journalists had turned up. She said she had attended many sensitive trials in the past without ever encountering this kind of problem. She added that it would not prevent her or her colleagues from finding out what the former minister had said and reporting on it.
The next hearing is scheduled for 27 February.
