Written by Shahla Ismailova/HRH Baku, on the basis of materials from Turan Information Agency, Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety, Azadlig Newspaper, Musavat Newspaper, DayAz Information Agency.
Media Freedom, one of the fundamental principles of democratic society, has permanently been violated in Azerbaijan in the last two years. This situation makes the democratic institutions of the world be concerned about the reality of Azerbaijan. “The current press situation in Azerbaijan resembles the situation in Belarus”, said Andreas Herkel, the co-reporter on Azerbaijan from the PACE. The Norwegian Ambassador (on the right) thinks that “Impunity for those who use violence against journalists encourages new attacks on media representatives” (18-SEPT-2006)

Norwegian Ambassador
In his interview to Turan Information Agency on the 11-th of September, the Norwegian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mr. Steinar Gil, expressed his concern regarding the media situation in Azerbaijan. He said problems still remain in the field of press freedom and they were expressed in a letter from Miklos Haraszti, OSCE representative on Media Freedom, to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. Gil also noted that the murder of journalist Elmar Huseynov had not been solved yet and said attacks on other journalists and their criminal prosecution was also cause for concern. “Impunity for those who use violence against journalists encourages new attacks on media representatives,” the ambassador stressed.

OSCE
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, has expressed concern over the recent prosecution of journalists in Azerbaijan and proposed a legal reform as a way out of the situation.

In a letter sent to Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, Haraszti wrote: “The current wave of oppressive lawsuits against journalists makes it vital that your March 2005 initiative be followed by tangible action. At that time, you appealed to public officials not to file lawsuits against the media. I am disappointed that your moratorium request is no longer being respected.” Haraszti also said that his office is ready to assist Azerbaijan in reforming its media legislation to improve the working environment for journalists.

Voice of America
“Freedom of the press in Azerbaijan continues to cause deep concern. Over the past six months the international community has registered incidents of violence and intimidation against journalists, as well as numerous lawsuits. Journalists criticizing the government face very serious problems,” reads the lead editorial from Friday’s edition of Voice of America Radio, which presents the position of the U.S. government.

The article cites the most recent U.S. State Department report on human rights in the world, saying that the Azerbaijani government exerts systematic pressure on journalists.
Zahidov’s arrest has been criticized by leading international human rights organizations, which have called for a transparent and independent investigation into this case. The article also cited the International Helsinki Federation, which stressed that narcotics are used in Azerbaijan to suppress the opposition. The VOA article also reads that several journalists have been framed and prosecuted in court on false charges in the past 18 months. The murder of Monitor Magazine Editor-in-Chief Elmar Huseynov, who was shot dead in the doorway of his apartment on March 2, 2005 remains unsolved. Two opposition journalists were also severely beaten in the spring of 2006. The article stressed that the government must ensure the uninhibited work of journalists.

Reporter without Borders
Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of Milli Yol Newspaper Editor Shahin Agabeyli. It also called the one year prison sentence handed down to Agabeyli “harsh” and “disproportionate.” “Without judging the details of the case, we cannot accept that any journalist be sent to prison for what he has written,” the organization said. “We urge that the sentence be cancelled.” (To view the complete statement, go to http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18546)

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Andreas Herkel, a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) co-reporter for Azerbaijan, said the independent press in Azerbaijan is under attack. In an interview to “Azadlig” radio, Herkel said he is concerned that last month two newspaper editors were sentenced to imprisonment and drugs were found on “Azadlig” Newspaper employee Sakit Zahidov. Herkel said that the current press situation in Azerbaijan resembles the situation in Belarus: “Of course, I am interested in processes in the press and follow all events attentively. It goes without saying that the current situation of the independent press concerns me greatly. In recent events the independent press has come under attack. Regarding the discovery of drugs on “Azadlig” Newspaper employee Sakit Zahidov, this looks like an attempt to frame him. The electronic media is under the government control. Small newspapers are confronted with countless problems. I am not referring to financial, intellectual or other types of problems. Simply, journalists working in independent newspapers are constantly under attack. It’s a shame that many of these instances resemble events in Belarus”

Council of Europe
Denis Bribosia, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, noted in the interview to Turan Information Agency that freedom of expression constitutes, as the European Court of Human Rights puts it, “one of the essential foundations of a democratic society, one of the basic conditions for its progress and for the development of every man.” While it is true that freedom of expression is not an absolute right, only the restrictions expressly allowed by the ECHR constitute lawful limitations on freedom of expression. Therefore, journalists in Azerbaijan must be able to carry out their investigative work freely without fear of being sued for articles they write. At the same time they should strive to conduct their work professionally, in good faith and in accordance with the ethics of journalism; there should be made the correct balance between freedom of expression and its limitations.