Two unknown men assaulted and beat Eynulla Fatullayev, a famed reporter of an opposition magazine, Monitor, on Monday, in the city centre. Fatullayev is known for his extremely critical articles about the various officials of the incumbent Azerbaijani government. (27 July 2004)
Physical attack
Eynulla Fatullayev, a journalist known from his years as a presenter with ANS TV, said two young men attacked him at 18.30 and knocked him with a heavy solid substance to the head near Monolit building area adjacent to the crowded Fountain Square. When he turned back he noticed two young persons disappearing. Fatullayev’s head was cut and started bleeding as a result of the sudden blow and that he had to go to a hospital on his own, where the wound was put in stitches. His general health is said to be satisfactory now.
Fatullayev believes that the assault might be connected with his professional activity and his critic articles.
Attack order on opposition journalists?
It was the second report of assault on opposition-minded journalists in Azerbaijan over the past ten days. The chief editor of the opposition’s daily Baku Khabar (Baku news), Aydin Quliyev, on July 19 said unknown men had attacked him two days earlier while he was getting into his car in Baku’s 3rd micro district area. Quliyev said the assaulters abducted and tortured him for about two hours before leaving him on the suburb of the capital. Police have not yet launched criminal proceeding over the attack on the chief editor.
