'Do not separate mother from children’ - publicist

The recent detentions of journalists in Azerbaijan have caused sharp criticism from the country's politicians and public figures.

Elshan Hasanov, head of the Political Prisoners Monitoring Centre, said the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has grown by 20 over the past month.

‘The other day we will present a new list of political prisoners to the public. The situation in the sphere of politically motivated persecution is very serious. In the new list, the number of political prisoners will grow by at least 15-20 people. We recognise as political prisoners two journalists Shamshad Agha and Shahnaz Beylargyzy who were detained the day before, 13 arrested because of the events 
in Imishli, and several religious activists,’ the human rights activist told Turan news agency.
Bashir Suleymanly, head of the Civil Rights Institute, described the new detentions of journalists as ‘another attempt by the authorities to suppress freedom of speech in Azerbaijan.’

‘It looks like that the process will continue until independent journalism is completely liquidated.
At the moment, the journalism is coming out of the classical format. Telegram channels and social networks disseminate more information than news websites and TV channels. The destruction of the professional press may lead to the dominance of fakes. Therefore, the government should strengthen the independent press, not imprison it. Arrest is not a solution but only aggravates the crisis,’ Suleymanly told Turan news agency.

Natig Jafarli, chairman of the political committee of the Republican Alternative (REAL) Party, called the detention of journalists Shamshad Agha and Shahnaz Beylargyzy as a sign of the authorities' desire not to have free media in the country.

‘The logic behind the recent actions against the media is that the government does not want the media to be funded from abroad. This could be understood if the country had a free market and a competitive economy, a normal advertising market. The media should earn money from advertising, the demand for advertising should arise as a result of competition,’ Jafarli wrote on facebook.

At the same time, he mentioned the limited advertising market of Azerbaijan, which is 50% smaller than in neighbouring Georgia. Jafarli explained the small volume of the advertising market by the monopolisation of the economy.  ‘A monopolist does not need advertising. If the authorities say ‘don't take foreign funding’, they should create conditions for making money inside the country,’ he said.

Ali Kerimli, head of the Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan, is convinced that the journalists have been detained on trumped-up charges. ‘Shahnaz Beylargyzy is not a participant in any public political process nor she even investigated the regime's corruption. She simply conducted interviews professionally, both with representatives of the opposition and the authorities. 

The arrest of such a journalist means that the regime really considers journalism a crime.

To demand the release of Shahnaz khanum, Shamshad Agha, other political prisoners - is the duty of every decent Azerbaijani,’ Kerimli wrote on facebook.

‘Another night operation, another false accusation of smuggling..... The public expects the arrests to stop, but the authorities are expanding repression. We call for the release of Shamshad Agha, Shahnaz Beylargyzy and all political prisoners,' Isa Gambar, head of the Musavat Party, wrote on facebook.

He pointed out that the number of women journalists arrested on unfounded charges has reached eight.

Publicist Keramet Beyukchel also condemned the arrests of journalists. ‘I no longer demand justice from the authorities, I expect at least mercy. For I do not have the power to demand justice. On the other hand, nowadays the word ‘demand’ already evokes bitter irony. Release both Shamshad bey and Shahnaz khanum. If it is not possible to release both of them, at least do not detain Shahnaz khanum. Do not separate mother and children,’ the publicist said.