“Shocked by brutal attack on Nakhchivan journalist Ilgar Nasibov. Hope the case ll be investigated properly and perpetrators will be punished”, – is written on Twitter page of the UK Embassy to Azerbaijan. -0-
2014 August 22 (Friday) 18:33:20
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said she was alarmed by yesterday’s violent attack on journalist Ilgar Nasibov in Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan.
“I call on the authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation of this brutal attack on Nasibov and bring those responsible to justice,” Mijatović said. “This criminal act has an enormous chilling effect on free expression and free media and it could inspire future crimes against members of the media.”
Nasibov, a journalist actively contributing to several media outlets in Azerbaijan, including Turan News Agency and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was assaulted on 21 August by a number of individuals in his office at the Resource Centre for Development of NGOs and Democracy in Nakhichevan. Nasibov sustained serious injuries, including concussion, broken cheekbones, nose and ribs. He is still in a very critical condition and receiving medical treatment at the hospital. The attackers also smashed and destroyed property and office equipment.
Nasibov has been prosecuted, threatened and physically attacked several times in the past. In December 2007, he was arrested and convicted to a one-year suspended sentence for libel charges. In July 2011, Nasibov, together with other journalists, was assaulted and briefly detained by the police. Both issues were raised by the Representative with the Azerbaijani authorities.
Following a recent crackdown on free media voices in Azebaijan, Mijatović also expressed concern about continuing harassment of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS). In addition to frozen bank accounts and confiscation of property earlier this month, the IRFS office was closed by law enforcement authorities and its staff is now being interrogated (see www.osce.org/fom/122481 and www.osce.org/fom/122389).
“This ongoing persecution of independent journalists, media activists and freedom of expression advocates must stop immediately. The authorities in Azerbaijan have to do their utmost to stop these practices,” Mijatović said.
Mijatović said that her Office was ready to support Azerbaijan in fulfilling its media freedom commitments and that a visit to Baku in the near future would help address these issues. -0-
Politics
-
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has proposed extending the EU’s civilian monitoring mission in Armenia for another two years. This was confirmed in a response from the EU press service to a query from the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe.
-
On January 10, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, accepted the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of Lithuania to Azerbaijan, Kestutis Vaškevičius.
-
By the decree of the head of state on January 10, a "National Data" system is being established in Azerbaijan. The new system aims to ensure efficiency and transparency through the use of digital technologies by central and local executive authorities, state legal entities with controlling shares, public legal entities, other budgetary organizations, as well as local self-government bodies.
-
By a decree of the head of state dated January 10, Azerbaijan has established an information system called "Digital Ecology." The new system integrates the activities of the Ministry of Ecology through the use of digital technologies with other individuals and legal entities.
Leave a review