The state of press freedom in Azerbaijan is deteriorating, said the Editor of "Yeni Musavat" Rauf Arifoglu and deputy editor of the newspaper "Azadlig" newspaper, Rahim Hajiyev, in an interview with Objective TV.
Today the newspaper "Azadlig" is on the verge of closure due to the execution of decisions on lawsuits by the head of Baku Metro, Tagi Akhmedov ,(30,000 AZN) and Director of the shopping center "Bina" Kabira Mammadova (30,000 in respect of the editorial board, and 2,000 in respect of editor.) The Court has already arrested the bank account of the newspaper, Hajiyev said.
Newspaper "Yeni Musavat" will face more severe sanctions; 10 lawsuits in the amount of 2.25 million manat have been filed against it. Three authors of the claims are business structures belonging to the ministers of Defense and State Border Guard Services.
Press distribution company "Gasid" refuses to pay the debt of these publications amounting to 10,000 manat. Street vendors are also forbidden to sell the newspapers. These publications have also been deprived of advertisement. The bulk of the readers from the protesting electorate is not able to buy newspapers, therefore the circulation of the most widely-read publications does not exceed 20,000 copies.
According to Arifoglu, in such a situation, internet and social networks are helpful.
In an atmosphere of intolerance by the authorities, the statements by local and international community and human rights organizations are not sufficient. Immediate defensive reaction of editorial offices is necessary. Otherwise, the authorities will bring journalists down.
In 2003, just after the presidential election, the editorial office of "Yeni Musavat" was evicted from their premises and eight people were arrested, including the editor. Seven journalists left for permanent residence abroad. Exactly the same situation is happening with "Azadlig". In November 2006, the editorial office was forcibly evicted 15 minutes after the verdict of the court, without waiting for the court decision to come into force. The arrested Editor, Ganimet Zahid, had to go abroad after his release, as well as several of its employees. There were cases of kidnapping, beatings, and other forms of pressure on the journalists of these publications.
The recent revolutionary events in Egypt, for example, arose after the self-immolation of a fruit seller. Other manifestations of the "Arab Spring" were also reported after sudden "little things." The authorities should not squeeze the free press, because the consequences of such reckless steps are unpredictable.
According to the editors, democracy, including respect for the inalienable rights of citizens and freedom of the press is inevitable in Azerbaijan, so it would better for the authorities to follow the adopted laws, and not to ignore them. -17D—
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