On 19 May 2008 PACE Monitoring Group held the press conference on the results of Monitoring Committee of PACE. During this conference co-rapporteurs of Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe Andreas Herkel and Yevgeniya Jivkova’s touched the question, related to the freedom of speech situation in Azerbaijan and criminal cases against journalists in the country. (21-MAY-08)

Written by Shahla Ismailova/HRH Azerbaijan on the basis of materials from Turan Info Agency, IRFS, Yeni Musavat; photos by IRFS

“The Council of Europe expresses its solidarity with other international organizations, human rights defenders and organizations that are engaged in protecting speech freedom, and declares once more that the criminal cases against journalists are trumped-up and are actually intended to oppress the media in Azerbaijan,” PACE Co-rapportuer Andreas Herkel said.

During his speech Herkel emphasized that he was very concerned about the arrest and persecution of “Azadlig” newspaper employees and the shutting down of the newspapers led by Eynulla Fatullayev after he was arrested. Herkel answered the questions of journalists about whether the issue of journalists was discussed during their meeting with the president.

During a press conference of PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteur Andreas Herkel and Yevgeniya Jivkova, the campaigning on TV of candidates for public office and recommendations on changes to the Election Code on this matter were also touched on. Herkel said, “It is recommended that election propaganda and election campaigns only be conducted on Public TV, and that the State TV channel not be involved in election propaganda”.