Cybercrimes against journalists will be appealed to the European Court of Human Rights

Baku/24.07.21/Turan: A virtual round table on the topic "New digital threats to critical voices" was held on the National Press Day of Azerbaijan, at the initiative of the Institute for Freedom and Security of Reporters. The event was attended by journalists, activists, as well as representatives of international organizations, they discussed traditional press problems, the increased frequency of recent surveillance of journalists using digital spy tools (Pegasus Project), arrests of journalists and government critics, and a new tough new media law passed without public consultation.

Journalists in exile, human rights defenders and activists who became victims of the latest surveillance (Pegasus Project) also participated in the roundtable.

The speakers condemned such illegal activities of the authorities and declared their readiness to apply to local courts, as well as to the European Court of Human Rights. Victims of spy surveillance intend to go to courts together. Methods have also been proposed to prevent similar actions in the future.

Among the speakers at the round table were the director of the Turan news agency Mehman Aliyev, lawyer Shahla Humbatova, editor-in-chief of the Azadlig newspaper Ganimat Zahid, IRFS executive director Emin Huseynov, publicist Khalig Bahadyr human rights defenders Zafar Ahmedov and Avtandil Mammadov, as well as journalists, Mehman Huseynov, Sevinj Osmangizi, Fizze Heydarova, Jasur Mammadov, Sevinj Sadigova, Natig Isbatov, and Yeltsin Ismayilli.

The editor-in-chief of the “Azadlig” newspaper G. Zahid assessed the actions of the Azerbaijani authorities yet another organized crime. According to him, the authorities are persecuting their citizens with tools to combat terrorism.

IRFS Executive Director Emin Huseynov noted that active work with civil society would continue to consolidate forces against cybercrimes of the Azerbaijani authorities.

Investigative journalist Mehman Huseynov is not surprised with the fact of cyberattacks against activists. Since the activists of civil society and journalists have repeatedly faced similar actions by the authorities.

The publicist Khalig Bahadir also noted that the anti-popular, anti-democratic government considers duty to pursue their critics. According to him, the authorities are afraid not only of their critics, but also of corrupt journalists who, for the sake of personal interests, write laudatory articles, but if possible, they can betray the authorities of the Aliyevs.

Lawyer Shahla Humbatova noted in her speech that the injured activists and journalists would join forces and go to court together. This can give a more effective result.

An operational group of lawyers was created, which began preparing the process of applying to local courts at the ECHR. The lawyer also considers it important to attract international attention of the public to cybercrimes against activists.-0-