Dunja Mijatovic calls to release all journalists in Azerbaijan

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media,   Dunja Mijatovic, today welcomed the release from prison of two convicted  journalists and a blogger.

"This is a long-expected step that can help to create a better environment  for journalists, who must be able to do their jobs free from the fear of  being put behind bars," Mijatovic said.

President Ilham Aliev issued a decree pardoning 86 prisoners on 26 December,  ahead of a national holiday. Two are journalists - Anar Bayramli, an  Azerbaijan-based correspondent for Iranian Sahar TV, and Aydin Janiyev, a  regional correspondent for the newspaper Khural. Both spent several months in  detention. Popular blogger Taleh Khasmammadov was also pardoned.

"I hope this commendable step to release Anar Bayramli, Aydin Janiyev and  Taleh Khasmammadov will be followed by more action. All journalists in  detention should be released," Mijatovic said.

During a recent trip to Baku for official meetings Mijatovic was able to  visit detained journalists Avaz Zeynalli, the chief editor of Khural,  independent journalist Faramaz Novruzoglu (Allahverdiyev), executive director  of Khayal TV Vugar Gonagov and chief editor of Tolishi Sado newspaper, Hilal  Mammadov. -0-