Protest Action Dispersed

On 14 June, the group of journalists attempted to hold the picket with slogans to stop the pressure on journalists. However, the police dispersed an unsanctioned journalists´ protest, injuring several journalists and detaining others. (15-JUN-07)

Written by Shahla Ismailova /HRH Baku on the basis of information received from IRFS, Yeni Musavat newspaper, Turan Information Agency; photos by IRFS

At 2 p.m. in Sabir Garden 20-30 journalists gathered carrying pictures of slain Azerbaijani journalists Elmar Huseynov and Alim Kazimov, as well as Eynulla Fatullayev and other imprisoned journalists. They also carried placards with the slogans “Free Speech,” “Hands off the Press!,” “Find Elmar Huseynov´s murderer!” and “Free Eynulla Fatullayev!”   For 10 minutes they were able to conduct their protest freely, due to a preplanned diversion. The journalists had previously made a public announcement that the protest would be held in front of bp´s Baku office. Approximately 200 police gathered at that location, leaving the city and Sabir Garden relatively free of law enforcement officers. 
 
Detentions of Journalists
The police were eventually tipped off. When they arrived they immediately began trying to arrest the protesting journalists, forcing them into police vehicles by pulling on their clothing, and punching and kicking them. Yeni Musavat Chief Editor Rauf Arifoglu, Yeni Musavat correspondent Zabil Mugabiloglu, and Bizim Yol Deputy Editor Seymur Haziyev were detained and later released. However Arifoglu and Mugabiloglu were minutes later again detained, along with editor Shahvaled Chobanoglu of the now defunct Gunadalik Azerbaycan Newspaper. These three journalists were kept in Sabail District Police Department #9 for about an 1 hour and given an official warning not to conduct another unsanctioned picket or their would be more serious repercussions. 
 
An ambulance had to be called for Yeni Musavat Etibar Saidagha with stomach trauma, who was initially only taken to Yeni Musavat´s editorial office. Many other journalists were kicked and punched by police, and some left the action with torn clothing.

The following journalists officially reported to IRFS that police used force against them during Thursday action; from Yeni Musavat Chief Editor Rauf Arifoglu, Etibar Saidagha, Sekhavet Humbetov, Zabil Mugabiloglu, and Elshad Mammedli, from Gundalik Azerbaycan Shahvaled Chobanoglu and from Bizim Yol Seymur Haziyev.   
 
Complaint to Police
On the same day, Editors Union member, Yeni Musavat Chief Editor Rauf Arifoglu sent a complaint to Baku City Police Chief Meharram Aliyev. In the complaint Arifoglu stated that police “rudely” dispersed the journalists´ protest, which Arifoglu noted was about to end anyway. Arifoglu claimed police used violence, despite the fact that the journalists were willing to peacefully leave on their own will, and noted that a policeman stole 21 AZN (about $25) from the pocket of a Yeni Musavat Newspaper correspondent.
 
In conclusion, Arifoglu wrote that while one can understand why police would want to disperse an unsanctioned protest, the use of force, ripping of journalists´ clothing and stealing of money from a journalist´s pocket is not understandable. “These actions are a stain on the entire police force,” wrote Arifoglu. “We will take relevant measures against the police that used force against us.”