Inaction of the authorities in the case of Rafiq Tagi undermines their authority

Every year  the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan report annually on the high percentage of crimes resolved, but no high-profile crimes against journalists have been solved. Harassment has become a sad tradition, said journalist Khadija Ismayilova in an interview with Objective TV (obyektiv.tv).

Ilgar Tagi, brother of the murdered journalist Rafiq Tagi, agreed with her, because the investigation of his brother’s murder is formal.

 As a result of medical negligence, Rafiq Tagi died in hospital yet the doctors involved have not been brought to justice. The deceased himself was a physician, and before his death he told the doctor about his serious bad health. In answer the doctor told him "not to grumble and wait till morning." Fifteen minutes prior to the death they gave Rafig Tagi an  injection, after which he died.

As for the investigation into the attack on Tagi, there were video cameras in the place where he was attacked,  however no one knows what they have recorded. 

"Family members of Rafig Tagi are shown hefty volumes of testimonies, but there is not any significant version. Under such scenario, I personally do not exclude the version that the political leadership of the country was interested in the physical elimination of my brother," says Ilgar Tagi. He believes that it is necessary to seek justice in the European Court of Human Rights.

According to Khadija Ismayilova, the clerical regime of Iran could be involved in the death of Rafiq Tagi. At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities could use this to show the West the danger of religious radicalism in Azerbaijan.

The main thing is that the murder was intended to suppress freedom of opinion. After the death of Elmar Huseynov, there was a long period of self-censorship, as journalists were afraid to write on many subjects.

After the death of Tagi the authors carefully cut thoughts related to criticizing religion. They remember how happy they were when Ayatollah of Iran was murdered and congratulated Muslims.

Wisdom of political power is in its tolerance for dissent. In a world with the Internet the attempts to "slap down" journalists are doomed to failure.  Instead of spending millions on  tracking systems, the authorities should promote democracy and reforms, so that people have a real right to choose, so that the economy develops, and systemic corruption can be eradicated, believes Ismaylova. --17D—