Journalists targeted in fresh crackdown after disputed vote

The recent wave of brutal attacks on journalists is a worrying sign of a fresh crackdown on critics and must be thoroughly and impartially investigated by the authorities, Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety said today.The violence comes amid political tensions, as the opposition boycotts the third term presidency of Ilham Aliyev, claiming electoral fraud.

 Acting as reporters to document the opposition rally against what they say was a stolen election, at least 7 journalists and citizen reporters on Saturday became targets -- beaten, bloodied, harassed and detained by police. 

 IRFS laid the blame for this violence squarely on Azerbaijani ruling regime, accusing it of scheming to suppress and stifle news coverage.

 At least three independent media outlets reported members of their staffs had been physically attacked by police during sanctioned rally on October 12.Infive cases, journalists were seized and whisked away, and their equipment was seized and damaged.

 The haftaichi.az website correspondent, Tural Gurbanly and journalist Emil Nihil were subjected to pressure. Nihil was found bloodied and transported to a hospital after being severely beaten by police.

 Riot police officers twisted azadxeber.net reporter Parvin Zeynally’s arms and took him towards a bus waiting nearby, and also took his camera. The policemen carried him away for 300 meters pressing his head down and forced him into the bus. The journalist fainted in the bus due to airlessness. After providing first aid to the journalist, the police took him to Yasamal District Police Department and seized his mobile phone and camera. Though journalist was released after being questioned, his camera was not returned.

 The police deliberately broke the 7,000 $-worthprofessional video camera which Obyektiv TV correspondent Rasim Aliyev used to document police brutality on peaceful protesters.

 British native Kevin Paul McCarey, who was also filming the protest, was beaten up by the police. 

 IRFS claims that such accounts have been all too commonplace around Azerbaijan. In its reports, the group documented at least hundreds of violent attacks against journalists and media workers since in the recent years, accusing the authorities of perpetrating attacks on reporters. 

 IRFS calls on the Azerbaijani government to punish the police officers who have abused their power and used force against journalists, and to take the necessary measures to prevent similar events in the future. -0-