(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced deep concern over the disappearance of Azer Garachenli, a correspondent for the weekly “Avropa”, on 16 October 2003, following his arrest during clashes in Baku between police and demonstrators who were protesting over the unfolding of the 15 October presidential election. Although there is video footage of Garachenli being detained […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced deep concern over the disappearance of Azer Garachenli, a correspondent for the weekly “Avropa”, on 16 October 2003, following his arrest during clashes in Baku between police and demonstrators who were protesting over the unfolding of the 15 October presidential election.
Although there is video footage of Garachenli being detained by masked members of the police special forces, the Interior Ministry has denied that he is being held. RSF called on the authorities to do everything possible to locate the journalist at once.
Despite government assurances that calm has been restored, two more journalists were detained on 17 October and thousands of copies of opposition newspapers were seized. RSF urged the authorities to release the detained journalists and to condemn any obstruction to the free flow of information.
Sayaf Gadoriv and Teymur Imanov, both journalists with the opposition daily “Yeni Musavat”, were detained on 17 October. They were picked up by police as they left the newspaper’s offices. Editor-in-chief Rauf Arifoglu was nearly arrested on the same afternoon, but managed to escape in his car. The motive for these latest arrests is unknown.
Meanwhile, unidentified men in civilian dress confiscated over 20,000 copies of opposition newspapers from newsstands in several cities on 17 October. The targeted newspapers were “Yeni Musavat”, “Azadliq”, “Hurriyet” and “Baki Habar”. Copies were also seized from street vendors.
At a 17 October news conference held at the Baku Press Club, Committee for Journalists’ Rights (RUH) President Aflatun Amashev said more than 70 journalists were the victims of violence on 15 and 16 October. He said 49 were injured and six had their cameras or video equipment destroyed or confiscated. There is continuing concern about the condition of injured journalists Nabi Alishev, of the daily “Khurriyet”, and Turan news agency correspondent Emin Huseynov.
