IRFS called on Azerbaijani authorities to stop repression of critics

Baku/13.05.22/Turan: The Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) has condemned the arrest of blogger Eyvaz Yahyaoglu on trumped-up charges of police insubordination  and called for his immediate release.

Eyvaz Yahyaoglu, a blogger who was detained by the police on May 9, 2022, and who has mostly covered official lawlessness and publicized violations of citizens' social and civil rights in rural areas, was tortured at the regional police station. "He was apparently forcibly forced to remove all reports from the youtube channel 'Şirvan Tv Eyvaz Eloğlu' that he owned," the statement said.

The Institute also recalled recent cases of pressures on journalists and activists, and in particular the killing of reporter and LGBTI activist Avaz Hafizli, the abduction and inhumane treatment of Bahtiyar Hajiyev, the attack on Ayten Mammadova, the increased threats made by officials against journalists and the recent violence against imprisoned journalists Polad Aslanov and Elchin Mammad.

The IRFS calls on the Council of Europe to condemn the authorities for this new wave of repressions, and demand the release of all journalists and put an end to impunity for crimes against public critics.

The IRFS also calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to respect and implement all provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, and release from prison Polad Aslanov, Afgan Sadigov and other journalists and bloggers, as well as opposition public figure Ali Aliyev.

The IRFS calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to fully decriminalise defamation, discontinue politically motivated criminal prosecutions of critics, and fully cease the practice of threatening journalists and guaranteeing them a safe environment for continuing their professional activities.-06B-