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The students of the Independent Republic of Azerbaijan University continue the hunger strike since the 21-st of November. The protest is held for restoration of the students’ rights for education. Despite of the numerous calls of the respectful people to stop the action, the students insist on the their struggle until the victory. The health state of several students has already been significantly worsened. (26-NOV-06)
 

The representatives of different international organizations, taking part in the annual conference of the Human Rights House Foundation in Zagreb, Republic of Croatia, disscussed the uneasy stage the media of Republic of Azerbaijan is at. Being seriously concerned with the ongoing attack on media, the representatives of 13 organizations signed the protest letter on the 25-th of November for support of freedom of expression and democracy. The text of the letter is given below. (26-NOV-06)
 

A leading opposition party as well as several pro-oppositional information agencies was evicted from their offices on the 25-th of November, a day after the decision of the Economic Court N1. About 100 police surrounded the building housing the editorial offices of Azadlig, while law enforcement officers removed the organizations´ property and carted it away in trucks. Police did not let people in and kept journalists and foreign diplomats, whose countries have expressed concern about freedoms in the Republic of Azerbaijan, at least 100 meters away. (26-NOV-06)

On the 24-th of November the National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) adopted a decision not to prolong the term of the license for the biggest independent broadcaster ANS TV channel, which had violated the broadcasting law and disregarded official warnings and fines. On the same day, the employees of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies sealed all broadcasting equipment of ANS Company. (25-NOV-06)
 

The hunger strike of the representatives of mass media outlets, started since the 9-th of November causes serious concern.  The health of some strikers deteriorate, today the editor of Azadlig newspaper has been hospitalized. Despite of the strong urge of the international organizations, the government demonstrates full ignorance to the situation. Strikers demand to put end to the attempts of authorities to evict the Azadlig  newspaper  and other  mass media and organizations  from the building in Khagani 33 St., where  the newspaper  has been located  since 1992. (24-NOV-06)

The ongoing pressure on the mass media in the Republic of Azerbaijan caused the creation of one more organization – Coordination Council for Press Protection on the 24-th of November. Considering the freedom of speech as an integral part of human rights, the Coordination Council undertook a set of obligations for protecting journalists and promoting the fair conditions for all mass media outlets. (24-NOV-06)
 

On the 23-rd of November, about 100 activists of Popular Front Party attempted to hold a protest action, protesting against the government on eviction of the party and Azadlig newspaper from its offices. The police violently dispersing the action, detained 30 people. The particular rudeness was observed toward the protesting women and journalists. (24-NOV-06)

On the 22-nd of November 2006, the International Crisis Group, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict, released the report “Georgia’s Armenian and Azeri Minorities”. The report calls the Georgian government to take significant steps to avoid conflict in the country’s ethnic Armenian and Azeri areas, as the growing tensions in the areas are evident. The Report examines the grievances of these two communities. (22-NOV-06)
 

On the 21-st of November, there took place a meeting of representatives of political parties, human rights defenders, members of Parliament and editors of mass media outlets. The meeting was devoted to the deteriorated state of media freedom in Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as ongoing attack on mass media. The participants of the meeting signed the joint statement, given below, ensuring the active intervention of the sides for support of democracy and freedom of press. (21-NOV-06)