**Updates IFEX alerts of 10, 7 and 2 February 2000, 1 November and 15 October 1999** (ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 letter to President Aliyev protesting the confiscation of Radio-TV Sara’s equipment: 11 February 2000 His Excellence Heydar Aliyev President of Azerbaijan 19 Istiglaliyyat Street Baku, Azerbaijan 370066 Fax: +994 12 […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 10, 7 and 2 February 2000, 1 November and 15 October 1999**
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 letter to President Aliyev protesting the confiscation of Radio-TV Sara’s equipment:
11 February 2000
His Excellence Heydar Aliyev
President of Azerbaijan
19 Istiglaliyyat Street
Baku, Azerbaijan 370066
Fax: +994 12 92 06 25
Dear President Aliyev
ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, remains extremely concerned at the news that the equipment of Radio-TV Sara has recently been confiscated, despite our appeal of 1 February 2000 to stop all attempts to close the station, and to cease the harassment of independent media in Azerbaijan.
According to our information the Azeri authorities closed Radio-TV Sara on 9 October 1999 with an extra-judicial action, following the broadcasting of a programme during which opposition politicians called for demonstrations in support of freedom for Nagorno-Karabakh. A $50,000 fine for defamation was also imposed on Radio-TV Sara, which the station could not raise. An appeal by the station to pay the sum in instalments was refused by the authorities and, on 9 February 2000, 20 pieces of equipment worth approximately $120,000, including the station’s TV transmitters, were confiscated. It was reported that the police stated the material would not be returned. The following day a second studio of the same station had its equipment confiscated.
This action is the most recent in a number of incidents by the Azeri authorities to repress opposition voices, despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and the 1998 formal abolition of censorship. These actions include the following:
On 7 February 2000 journalist Elbeyi Hassali of Yeni Musavat newspaper was ordered to follow two policemen to the police station of the Sabayel district for questioning; in fact he was forced into a car by unknown individuals and taken to the Nachichevan Autonomous Republic. The journalist was released only on the night of 9 February.
On the same afternoon, following the above incident, the Yeni Musavat newspaper was attacked by 150 people. A number of journalists, from Yeni Musavat and other media, were attacked and beaten, and several pieces of equipment damaged. The police failed to offer adequate protection to the attacked individuals.
The Musavat Party has also been directly harassed by the police and by unknown individual. On 5 February the party headquarters in the Nachichevan Autonomous Republic were attacked and its documents destroyed. The Chairman and a number of other party leaders were arrested en masse. In the Sherur region of Nachichevan 50 party members were detained by the authorities, while the offices in Baku were attacked on 7 February. The attack coincided with the beginning of the party leadership’s weekly meeting. It is alleged that the police was aware of the impeding action, yet they failed to take appropriate steps for the its prevention and for the protection of the targeted politicians.
The wave of repression has been exacerbated by the approval by Parliament of a new Media Law on 9 December 1999, which has been widely criticised by a number of international freedom of expression organisations, and which prompted the Council of Europe to call upon your government to introduce a number of amendments. We understand that you have not yet signed the law and urge you to reconsider it, particularly in view of Azerbaijan’s pending applications for Council of Europe membership.
All the above facts highlight that your government is not allowing the expression of those views and opinions which run counter to the official position and has therefore failed to fulfil its international obligations as a state party to the International Convention of Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 of which protects freedom of expression.
In addition, having applied to the Council of Europe, your government is being required to modify the existing legislation to incorporate the provisions of the European Convention of Human Rights into national law, including the protection of freedom of expression, enshrined in Article 10.
The extra-judicial measures taken against the independent media and the repression of dissenting voices are a clear infringement of such standards which can seriously jeopardise Azerbaijan’s acceptance as a member of the intergovernmental organisation.
ARTICLE 19 calls upon your government immediately to:
Return the material confiscated from Radio-TV Sara and cease all forms of repression directed towards this station, as well as towards all media and opposition voices in Azerbaijan.
End the violence and harassment of journalists and opposition politicians, including the use of physical abuse.
End the arrest of journalists and opposition members for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Cease the use of extra-judicial means to silence opposition voices.
Fully comply with international standards of freedom of expression, especially those enshrined in the international covenants to which your country is signatory.
Introduce amendments to the new Media Law, to bring it into full compliance with international standards of freedom of expression, and with the guidelines provided by the Council of Europe
We await confirmation that your government will take the necessary steps for the implementation of the above.
Yours sincerely,
Fiona Harrison
Head of Europe Programme
Recommended Action
Similar appeals can be sent to:
His Excellence Heydar Aliyev
President of Azerbaijan
19 Istiglaliyyat Street
Baku, Azerbaijan 370066
Fax: +994 12 92 06 25
E-mail: president@gov.az
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
