The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety condemns the Azerbaijani authorities for the violent police action against journalists

Baku/09.03.19/Turan: The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) condemns the Azerbaijani authorities for the violent police action against journalists on international women"s day, as well as participants at the protest to end domestic violence.

The IRFS demands that the law enforcement officers and provocateurs, who allowed the use of brute force against media representatives and peaceful protesters, to be brought to justice.

During the protest action on the 8th of March, organized, on the occasion of the international women's day, by a group of women-activists, fighting for equality, the police and a group of provocateurs grabbed the posters from the protesters, insulted them and used brute force against them. They also tried to remove by force the journalists covering this rally, from the scene.

As a result of the unlawful use of violence against media representatives, eight women journalists were injured, some of them had their equipment, used to take pictures, videos and report on the protest rally, broken.

The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety calls on the authorities to ensure basic human rights inside the country, in particular, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and to ensure the safety and security for all journalists. -06B-