Repression Of Free Media In Azerbaijan Must Stop, OSCE Representativ

REPRESSION OF FREE MEDIA IN AZERBAIJAN MUST STOP, OSCE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS

Tuesday 11 November 2014 11:53
Photo:

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic

Yerevan /Mediamax/. OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja
Mijatovic said that the ongoing and increasing number of repressive
actions against independent media and advocates of freedom of
expression in Azerbaijan must stop.

Dunja Mijatovic stated this in Tbilisi during the 11th OSCE South
Caucasus Media Conference.

“Practically all independent media representatives and media NGOs
have been purposefully persecuted under various, often unfounded and
disturbing charges,” Mijatovic said.

Azerbaijani blogger Mehman Huseynov was detained at Baku Airport
on 10 November when trying to depart for Tbilisi to attend the 11th
South Caucasus Media Conference, invited by the OSCE Representative
on Freedom of the Media. Huseynov was taken into police custody and
released after several hours of questioning.

Mijatovic further noted that Khadija Ismailova, a journalist with
Radio Azadliq, also invited to the conference in Tbilisi, could not
attend due to earlier travel restrictions imposed on her.

“I fully concur with the recent assessment made by the Council of
Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks,” Mijatovic
said. “I repeat my call on the authorities in Azerbaijan to end this
hostile attitude against free media.”

The Representative once again expressed her readiness to visit Baku
to assist the authorities find ways to reverse this disturbing trend.