(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has criticised the Azerbaijani authorities for continuing to hold three journalists and occupying the offices of the leading opposition daily, “Yeni Musavat”. On 21 October 2003, it was confirmed that Azer Garachenli, a correspondent for the weekly “Avropa”, is one of the journalists being held. The Interior Ministry had repeatedly denied his […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has criticised the Azerbaijani authorities for continuing to hold three journalists and occupying the offices of the leading opposition daily, “Yeni Musavat”.
On 21 October 2003, it was confirmed that Azer Garachenli, a correspondent for the weekly “Avropa”, is one of the journalists being held. The Interior Ministry had repeatedly denied his detention even though the television station ANS filmed his arrest by masked members of the special police forces on 16 October in Baku.
Garachenli has been sentenced to 15 days in prison, although the reasons for the sentence are still unknown. An appeal hearing is to be held soon.
“How is it possible that the police arrest a journalist and the Interior Ministry insists there was no such arrest for several days?” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. He called for an investigation into the chaotic functioning of the police and the mistreatment of journalists since 15 October.
Ménard also voiced the organisation’s continuing concern about the fate of three detained journalists and the harassment of “Yeni Musavat” and its editor-in-chief, Rauf Arifoglu. “We urge the authorities to release these three journalists at once, to leave the offices of ‘Yeni Musavat’ and to stop obstructing the opposition news media’s coverage of the ongoing events.”
The other two journalists being held are Zabil Mugabiloglu and Jehyun Askerli. Mugabiloglu, a political reporter with the pro-government daily “525è”, was arrested by police at the newspaper’s headquarters on 20 October. He was taken to the Yasamal district court in Baku and sentenced to 15 days in prison for disturbing the peace.
Askerli, a correspondent in Geychay (west of Baku) for the daily “Milliyet” and a member of the opposition Popular Front party, was detained on 19 October. It is not known why he was arrested or where he is being held.
Since the morning of 16 October, police have been blocking access to the premises of “Yeni Musavat”, which is located in the same building as the opposition party Musavat. The newspaper’s journalists have been forced to work elsewhere, mainly in the offices of the newspaper “Azadliq”.
Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of “Yeni Musavat”, took refuge in the Norwegian embassy in Baku on 18 October fearing arrest. He left the embassy on 21 October after negotiations between western diplomats and Prime Minister Ilham Aliev, winner of the 15 October presidential elections.
Emin Huseynov, a correspondent for the news agency Turan, and Nabi Alishov, a correspondent for the independent daily “Khurriyet”, who were among the victims of police violence on 15 and 16 October, are both still hospitalised with head injuries.
