“Realny Azerbaijan” and “Gundalik Azerbayjan” newspapers’ Editor-in-Chief and Founder Eynulla Fatullayev is accused of threatening terrorism, inciting religious, ethnic and/or national hatred, and tax evasion. The conviction of Fatullayev by Azerbaijan’s Grave Crimes Court on the 30-th of October is a culmination of a concerted effort by the Azerbaijani authorities to silence Fatuallyev and his newspapers. (01-NOV-07)
  
Written by Shahla Ismailova / HRH Baku on the basis of materials from Turan Info Agency, IRFS, HRW press release

Background
Eynulla Fatullayev frequently used to criticize the Azerbaijani government and its officials for corruption and internal games. He and his family members were exposed to pressure more than once for many years.

E.Fatullayev was a friend and colleague of slain Elmar Huseynov, the chief editor of the Monitor magazine, murdered at the door of his apartment on 02 March 2005. In March 2007, Fatullayev published a statement about the murder of the Monitor Elmar Huseynov accusing the Azerbaijani authorities preventing the investigation of the case, which again caused threats of death to Fatullayev and his family. The authorities rejected to investigate the claim of Fatullayev and protect him and his family.

After the statement of Fatullayev about the Khojali massacre, distributed on the internet in early 2007, there began the mass rallies of protest in front of “Realny Azerbaijan” accompanied by throwing eggs and stones at the office windows. He was arrested with accusations on threatening terrorism, inciting religious, ethnic and/or national hatred, and tax evasion; his newspapers “Realny Azerbaijan” and “Gundalik Azerbayjan”  were shut as well.

Eynulla Fatullayev is the eighth journalist in Azerbaijan accused and imprisoned for defamation and other criminal charges.

Human Rights Watch
On the 30-th of October Human Rights Watch published a press release on the issue of Eynulla Fatullayev. Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch said that the sentence of Fatullayev to eight years and six months for terrorism reflects the government’s hostility toward journalism and freedom of expression. “Fatullayev’s conviction on terrorism charges is absurd. The action was politically motivated, and his conviction should be quashed immediately and he should be released,” said Cartner.

Human Rights Watch has also documented numerous cases of violence and threats of violence against opposition and independent journalists in the country.