Baku/20.09.13/Turan : The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) has condemned the arrest in Azerbaijan of the journalist of the newspaper Bizim Yol and head of the website moderator.az Parviz Gashimli .
The statement noted Gashimli was arrested Sept. 17 on trumped up charges of smuggling and illegal possession of weapons and explosives.
The document states that the MNS simultaneously raided the home of Gashimli and the editorial office, where he works.
A search was conducted at the apartment without representation in court and without a lawyer or journalists.
A Tavakkyul Gurbanov, in the car of which six guns and ammunition for them were found, said that he had brought a gun to Gashimli at his request .
Gashimli denies familiarity with that person.
Both publications where he worked are known as lighting problems of corruption and human rights abuses .
CPJ calls attention to the implementation of the arrest of the journalist in a presidential election .
CPJ calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure freedom of the press if they are interested in the legitimacy of the election.
"We call on the Azerbaijani authorities to release Parviz Gashimli and drop all charges against him , and to return all confiscated materials and equipment to the newspaper Bizim Yol and the site moderator.az", said CPJ's program coordinator in Eastern Europe Nina Ognyanova .
CPJ also notes that freedom of the press in Azerbaijan has deteriorated in recent years. CPJ has documented several cases in which the authorities used trumped-up criminal charges , including charges of terrorism , illegal possession of drugs and weapons, and smuggling in order to stifle criticism . At least eight other journalists are imprisoned in the country in retaliation for their reporting on sensitive issues such as government corruption and human rights violations . -06D -
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