Denial of Justice for a meeting of journalist with the prisoner is illegal, human rights activist

The Director of the Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan Eldar Zeynalov called unreasonable the refusal of the Penitentiary Service of the Justice Ministry to an interview the Director of the Information Agency "Turan" Mehman Aliyev  with an imprisoned lawyer Intigam Aliyev.

The Article 22.2 of the Code on Execution of Punishments (CEP) provides for prison visits by journalists (for professional activity and not in private) with the permission of the Ministry of Justice.

According to Article 22.4, obtaining interviews, implementation of photo, video recording, audio recording can be carried out with the consent of the prisoner. Conduct photo and video shooting facilities ensuring the safety and security of the correctional institution, in accordance with Article 22.5 can be carried out with the permission of the relevant executive body.

"I believe that the failure due to "lack of family ties" cannot be a base for the requested official permission to interview. However, the Code provides for the visit  of individuals, Zeynalov said.

Regarding the wording "no other reasons" the Code directly and unequivocally provides for the possibility of contacts  signed with the media. "However, this requires permission of the Ministry of Justice and of the convicted, but the rejection is unjustified," he said.

Finally, the claim that the appeal of the journalist does not comply with the law "On public participation" is unfounded. Although the media  is also among the members of the law, it does not regulate the form of appeals to the state authorities.

There were many cases where prisoners gave  interviews. Moreover, there were cases when the Prison Service itself helped to distribute the statement to the press for some prisoners, said Zeynalov, offered to complain to the Minister of Justice, the Ombudsman, or even sue.

On 15  October, Mehman Aliyev appealed to the Minister of Justice Fikrat Mammadov with a request to create the conditions for a meeting with Intigam Aliyev as a journalist in accordance with Article 22.2 of the Code of Azerbaijan Republic on execution of punishments.

In a response letter signed by the deputy chief of the Penitentiary Service Rafig Ramazanov, such a meeting was denied.-0-