Azerbaijani Authorities Agree to Admit Violations of Rights of Two Journalists

Baku / 25.09.20 / Turan: The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on September 24 announced decisions on the complaints of two applicants from Azerbaijan for restricting freedom of movement - publicist Rasim Garaj (Nasirov) and journalist Tural Asadli.

They were banned from leaving the country in connection with a criminal case against the Internet channel Meydan.Tv, with which they cooperated.

The complaints raised the issue of violation of rights under Article 4 (freedom of movement) of Protocol No. 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 13 (the right to effective legal remedies) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

During the communication, the government, referring to the precedent decisions of the ECHR in similar cases, recognized the violation of the applicants' rights and expressed its readiness to pay the applicants 5 thousand euros each, said lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova, who represented the applicants in the ECHR.

At the same time, in May 2019, the government lifted the restriction on their travel abroad. As a result, the ECHR dismissed the cases, taking into account the amicable agreement between the parties on the amount of compensation.

Since 2014, the Azerbaijani authorities began to impose restrictions on travel abroad for journalists and activists. In particular, a ban was imposed on more than 30 individuals - heads of NGOs and human rights defenders, journalists who collaborate with Meydan TV and Radio Azadlig (Azerbaijan's Radio Liberty service).

Despite the fact that they were involved in criminal cases against these structures as witnesses, in violation of the law, they were banned from leaving Azerbaijan. These restrictions were only lifted in 2019. However, for some journalists and activists, they still persist. —06D-