**Updates IFEX alerts of 14, 10, 7 and 2 February 2000, 1 November and 15 October 1999** (CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly disturbed by President Heidar Aliyev’s government’s sustained and often violent harassment of the opposition newspaper “Yeni Musavat” and the independent station Sara Radio/TV. On 7 February 2000, at approximately 4 p.m. (local time), […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 14, 10, 7 and 2 February 2000, 1 November and 15 October 1999**
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly disturbed by President Heidar Aliyev’s government’s sustained and often violent harassment of the opposition newspaper “Yeni Musavat” and the independent station Sara Radio/TV.
On 7 February 2000, at approximately 4 p.m. (local time), some 150 people attacked the
editorial offices of “Yeni Musavat” in Baku, blockading the entrance to the building and breaking office windows. The demonstration was thought to be related to a series of articles published in “Yeni Musavat” that criticized corruption in the Nakhichevan region.
A number of local journalists were attacked by the crowd and local police while attempting to cover the demonstration. The mob seized the camera of Elkhan Kemirov, a photographer with the newspaper “Azadliq”. “Sharq” newspaper reporter Serkerde Serkhanoglu, “Azadliq” reporter Leman Alieshrefqizi and Mustafa Hajibeyli of the newspaper “525-ci Qezet” were assaulted and beaten, while Tural Musseyib of Space TV and Eldeniz Veli of ANS TV both had their cameras smashed.
Earlier that day, police officers arrested the author of the “Yeni Musavat” corruption series, Elbeyi Hassanli, and detained him at the Sabayel District police station for questioning. After leaving the station he was abducted by a group of unknown men and taken to the Nakhichevan region.
Baku police have denied any involvement in Hassanli’s abduction. The journalist was eventually released on 9 February, following protests from local journalists and allegations that President Aliyev’s government knew about the raid in advance but did nothing to stop it.
On 8 February, equipment worth approximately US$120,000, including television transmitters, was taken from the premises of Sara Radio/TV. Sara representatives told CPJ that to the best of their knowledge, the confiscation was ordered by Husein Huseynov, head of Azerbaijan’s Motor Transport Agency and director of the newly approved, state-supported LTV station.
The equipment was allegedly seized in compensation for a fine of 250 million manats (US$58,000) levied against the station in November 1999, after it was found guilty of insulting Huseynov’s “honor and dignity” during a September 1999 broadcast that accused him of corruption. Even though the people who raided the station provided no official documents to justify the seizure, local police have refused to take up the case.
This outrageous action was the latest in a series of recent government attempts to silence Sara Radio/TV. On 29 October, CPJ sent President Aliyev a letter protesting his government’s 9 October attempt to shut down the station. Police forced employees to leave the building and then sealed the facility, following an 8 October broadcast during which opposition leader Nizami Suleymanov called on the public to join demonstrations demanding freedom for the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
President Aliyev’s government has claimed that Sara Radio/TV is owned by foreigners, in
violation of Article 7 of the mass media law. But according to the station’s Turkish director, Rauf Rasul, the station is legally registered to Azeri representatives of the Turkish network ICBC Television. Contrary to official claims, Rasul himself is not the owner of Sara Radio/TV.
CPJ is also condemning the recent passage of a new and even more draconian media
bill, which President Aliyev signed into law on 8 February, despite CPJ’s 15 December protest.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– strongly protesting these continued attacks on independent and opposition media in Azerbaijan
– urging him to ensure that charges are filed against all assailants involved in the raid on
“Yeni Musavat”, and that officials reinstate Sara TV’s broadcast license and return all equipment confiscated from the station
– condemning the recent passage of a new and even more draconian media bill, which he signed into law on 8 February
– asking that he do everything in his power to ensure that all journalists in Azerbaijan may work without government interference
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:His Excellency Heidar Aliyev
President of Azerbaijan
19 Istiglaliyat Street
Baku, Azerbaijan 370066
Fax: +994 12 920 625
E-mail: president@gov.azPlease copy appeals to the source if possible.
