Strange Explanations from Ali Hasanov about Detention of Journalists

The presidential aide Ali Hasanov tried to explain the series of detentions of journalists cooperating with Meydan TV by the police today.

In his commentary for the state news agency AzerTaj, he stated that these detentions were aimed "to urge foreign journalists to act in accordance with the rules of accreditation of foreign journalists in Azerbaijan of 18 March 2015".

According to him, the Internet TV channels Interaz and Euroaz, the radio Voice of America, Meydan TV and several other foreign media, "despite repeated warnings, do not respect these rules and act illegally in the country.” “Detentions of several foreign journalists in the recent days are intended to encourage them to abide by the rules of accreditation," Hasanov said.

According to him, in respect of people violating the laws of the country, necessary measures will be continued.

However, Ali Hasanov's statement contradicts the facts and logic.

Thus, as for the accreditation problem, why are dozens of journalists summoned to the prosecutor's office and detained on the street and taken to the Office to Combat Organized Crime?

In most of these bodies the journalists were not asked about accreditation, and were asked who is funding Meydan TV and why the journalists covered the unrest in Mingachevir. Did they begin to abduct journalists in the streets to check their accreditation?

Commenting on this statement, a lawyer in the field of media Alasgar Mammadli called Ali Hasanov’s allegations contradicting the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

According to the Azerbaijani legislation, every citizen has the right to collect information, and journalists enjoy additional privileges - the collection of information is their professional duty. In this regard, the restrictions apply inadmissibility of collecting information related to state and military secrets. All other threads cannot be limited, the expert said.

The question of the need for accreditation of Azerbaijani journalists as foreign representatives is absolutely unfounded. An Azerbaijani citizen, a journalist who shares his materials with colleagues abroad, should not be accredited.

"In this case we are talking about trying to use the accreditation procedure as a restrictive element that is absolutely unacceptable and contrary to the position of the Azerbaijani Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Therefore, attempts to restrict the work of journalists and the collection of information, of course, will be recognized unlawful by the European Court for Human Rights," said Mammadli. -02B-