Another journalist is banned to leave the country

On 21 March Frontier Service of Azerbaijan  did not allow an independent journalist Isolda Agayeva  to leave the country, according to Agayeva. She was not  explained the reasons for the ban, and  was recommended to apply to the State Border Service and Interior Ministry. Agayeva believes that the reason for the ban on leaving the country is  her collaboration with the Internet resource Meydan.TV.

On 20 September Agayeva  and two other colleagues were  detained upon return from Ukraine , and taken to the Chief  Directorate for Combating Organized Crime  of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where they were asked about Meydan.TV activities. Prior to it, on  September 2, 2015 she was  also called the Prosecutor Office in connection with giving the coverage on the protests in Mingachevir, but the questions asked  were mainly about the Meydan.TV. Agayeva was going to Turkey in order to continue her  education. She believes a ban on her leaving the country illegal, and intends to appeal to the court.

On 19 March the Azerbaijani border guards did not allow the freelance journalist Gular Mehdizadeto leave the country. She stated that  previously the law enforcement officers asked about MeydanTV activities.

** Meydan TV  was created by  a blogger, a former political prisoner, now a political emigrant Emin Milli in 2013 with financial support from Western donors. Meydan TV highlights the problem of corruption and human rights violations in Azerbaijan. Since September 2015 journalists working with this resource  are periodically summoned to the Prosecutor Office.—06D--