Tomas Hammerberg (right), COE Human Rights Commissioner, had a working-visit to Azerbaijan, during which he met with representatives of human rights organizations, mass media outlets and government. On this occasion, Article 19 in the open letter to T. Hammarberg drew his attention to the necessity to raise his concerns with the authorities and to highlight the violations against freedom of expression and freedom of the press in the country. (07-SEP-07) 
       
Written by Shahla Ismailova/ HRH Baku on the basis of information from IRFS and Turan News Agency; photo from COE

Meeting with journalists
On the 3-rd of September, Tomas Hammerberg met with representative of mass media outlets and journalists’ organizations. The journalists gave comprehensive information to the COE Human Rights Commissioner on the situation on freedom of expression, entrapment and provocation against journalists, censorship on the internet, the monopoly over the internet, the lack of independent electronic media – specifically TV channels, the absence of an advertising market, the non-objective and unbalanced reporting of Public TV, the failure to adopt the law on defamation, and the need to transfer the articles on libel and defamation (including 323 about insulting the honor and dignity of the president) to Azerbaijan’s Civil Code.

Closing conference
On the closing conference, held on 6 September, T.Hammarberg emphasized that he investigated the press freedom situation and the cases of imprisoned journalists in Azerbaijan. 

During his meeting with government officials he discussed the imprisoned journalists. In response to this, President Ilham Aliyev and Justice Minister Fikret Mammedov said that they would react swiftly to recommendations on this matter he makes in his report.

Hammarberg also stated that he met with imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev today in the Ministry of National Security and received information on the journalist’s case from Fatullayev himself. In addition to this, a representative from Hammarberg’s delegation also met with ailing imprisoned journalist Faramaz Allavherdiyev (Novruzoglu).

Hammarberg’s report will be prepared and then published within the next three months.