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-Azerbaijan’s government must respect the responsibility of journalists to document events and report the views of citizens, especially in the run-up to the presidential election, the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) says in a statement.

The Republic of Azerbaijan underwent its Universal Periodic Review in 2013 and had to report on the recommendations it accepted and rejected at the 24th session of the Human Rights Council.

Elections are a moment of national debate about the future of the country and a time during which the right to political participation, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly enjoy even more protection than usually. Elections are indeed not only about choosing one candidate.

Several human rights organisations, including Human Rights House Foundation, urge the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevin to stop the continued harassment and intimidation of the investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova.

The conference will discuss the situation of human rights in Azerbaijan in the context of the Universal Periodic Review, the advocacy activities and the future steps. Maina Kiai, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, will be one of the speakers.

Fritt Ord’s and Zeit-Stiftung’s Press Prizes for Russia and Easter Europe will be will be bestowed at an award ceremony at The Norwegian Nobel Institute, Henrik Ibsens gate 51, Oslo, on Thursday June 20 at 12.00 h.

-Not allowing Mehman Huseynov to come to Oslo to receive the Press Prize Award is an example of how the Azerbaijani authorities repress free speech and human rights defenders’ work in the country, says Maria Dahle, director of Human Rights House Foundation.

-Photojournalist Mehman Huseynov (23) at Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) in Azerbaijan, was yesterday banned from traveling to Oslo, Norway, where he is to receive a prestigious award from Fritt Ord Foundation and the Zeit Foundation, says Maria Dahle, director of The Human Rights House Foundation today.

In preparation of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) is organising advocacy days in Geneva, in connection with the UPR pre-session.