Institute for Media Rights (IMR): attack on Toplum TV - criminal encroachment on freedom of expression

Baku/03.11.21/Turan: The Facebook page of the Internet television Toplum TV was subjected to a devastating hacker attack on November 3, the statement of the  Azerbaijan Institute for Media Rights (IMR).

According to Alasgar Mammadli, founder of Toplum TV and a well-known media rights expert, unidentified attackers hacked his mobile phone and hijacked his FB account. They completely took control of Mammadli's private information and personal correspondence. The main goal of this criminal attack was to hijack Toplum TV's FB page, the IPM said in a statement.

“The interference was due to the illegal use of SMS messages sent to the SIM card of my mobile phone. That is, incoming SMS messages to an existing number were simultaneously used by those who technically control the system in accordance with the telecommunications legislation," said Mammadli.

It is very difficult to make such an open and unhindered intrusion into a mobile phone or computer without cooperation with the state telecommunications services,” Mammadli continued. “Moreover, the criminals were confident that they would go unpunished and would be protected. Otherwise, they would not have committed this crime, which could have been easily detected and suppressed by the country's security and special services,” Mammadli said.

On the Toplum TV FB page, the attackers removed the video recordings of the online discussions of the "Debate in Society" program with the leaders of the opposition parties Popular Front of Azerbaijan and "Musavat", presented by the well-known journalist Shamshad Agha. In addition, thousands of likes have been removed from Toplum TV's FB page to harm its performance.

It is obvious that what happened was a cybercrime provided for under the following Articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan 271 (Illegal access to a computer system), 272 (Unlawful possession of computer information) and 273 (Unlawful interference with a computer system or computer information). It is also obvious that actions prohibited by Articles 155 (Violation of secrecy of correspondence, telephone conversations, postal, telegraphic or other messages) and 156 (Violation of privacy) of the same Code were committed. There are all grounds for initiating a criminal case, identifying and bringing to justice the perpetrators and their accomplices, as well as the responsible persons of the communication structures.

According to Mammadli, it is obvious that the hacker attack was carried out for political purposes. This is a manifestation of absolute intolerance to the environment of free discussion in society and suppression of overt cybercrime.

 “This interference is a flagrant violation of freedom of expression, privacy and security of personal information and a criminal offense. I demand that the authorities responsible for information security conduct a serious investigation and take the necessary measures,” Mammadli said.

 IMR, in turn, notes that the attack on Toplum TV is not just a blow to a specific publication, but also a criminal violation of the right of every person to freely express their opinion, seek, receive and disseminate all kinds of information and ideas orally or in writing, through the press or artistic expression or in other ways of your choice. This is an attack on the right of society to listen to different views and opinions about what is happening in society, to hold discussions and freedom of political debate.

IMR demanded that the authorities investigate this attack on Toplum TV and ensure that those responsible are punished.

“We hope that the responsible authorities will not postpone the necessary practical steps to prove in practice that our Constitution, laws, human rights and freedoms are protected from such crimes,” the IPM concluded. -06D-