The Azerbaijani authorities are not interested in the development of a free press

The situation with the freedom of expression in Azerbaijan continues to deteriorate. Since the beginning of 2013 dozens of facts physical attacks on journalists have been recorded, seven members of the media remained imprisoned, opposition media is subject to heavy fines, the authorities are trying to establish control over the on-line space, said Emin Huseynov, the head of the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) at today's presentation of the human rights NGO report on the situation in Azerbaijan with the freedom of expression in 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. 

The presentation was timed to  the  World Press Freedom Day.

Huseynov noted with regret the lack of willingness of the authorities to dialogue with civil society on issues of freedom of expression.

As an example  he called the authorities' refusal to take part in a conference organized by IRFS and the OSCE Office in Baku on May 2, and the alternative activities held by the authorities, which ignored the problems of freedom of expression, and stated that the situation is safe. 

Meanwhile, Huseynov said, the situation remains  bad.

The murder of journalist Elmar Huseynov in March 2005 and journalist Rafiq Tagi in November of 2013.

Seven journalists arrested by a political order of power are still in jail. 

At the same time, Huseynov praised the release of the journalists of "Khayal TV", arrested in Guba events of March 1, 2012 after spending two years in prison.  However, reporters  have been released conditionally, and it also has a negative impact on their freedom of expression, Huseynov said.

The reports assessed the situation on a group of issues - physical pressure on journalists, their prosecution, the problems in the online media, court fines, etc.

In addition,  they compiled a list of "enemies of the press", which included President Ilham Aliyev, Minister of Emergency Situations, Kamaladdin Heydarov, Defense Minister, Safar Abiyev, etc.

The head of state is not taking steps to develop real free media, and even initiated or supported  reactionary amendments to the media law.

Along with criticism of the situation, the IRFS  put forward a number of recommendations for improvement of situation, which include proposals for the release of imprisoned journalists, punish those responsible for crimes against journalists, decriminalizing defamation, etc.

After the event, a group of representatives of the journalistic community and human rights activists visited the grave of Elmar Huseynov, the chief editor of the "Monitor" magazine, who was murdered  on March 2, 2005.

Speaking at an impromptu rally at the grave of Elmar Huseynov, director of Turan news agency, Mehman Aliyev, noted that impunity for murder and other crimes against journalists encourages to new attacks on the free press.

He drew attention to unwillingness of the authorities to conduct a dialogue with civil society and the media, and lack of interest in the development of a free press.

Aliyev urged to stop pressure on the media and release all arrested seven  journalists.—16С06—