Journalist Banned from Leaving Azerbaijan

The journalist for ANS TV Ganira Atashova is banned from leaving Azerbaijan. According to the lawyer Elchin Sadigov, this restriction is introduced in connection with the criminal case against the TV channel under article 214.2 (a call to terrorism and terrorism propaganda).

It is noteworthy that in relation to the TV executives such restrictions do not exist.

According to the lawyer, it is not known when the criminal case was initiated.

Atashova learned about the ban on October 27, 2016 during her planned departure to Istanbul. According to the lawyer, Atashova worked on the channel under a contract and did not hold office.

Atashova filed a complaint about the decision on the limitation of her rights, asking for a judicial review.

It is noteworthy that all this time the channel guides have been silent about what is happening and do not report on the violation of the rights of their employees. This pro-government TV channel traditionally relies on an agreement with the authorities and never complains to international organizations.

In recent years, this channel annually declared Ilham Aliyev and members of his family the Person of the Year, believing that it is a guarantee of the channel’s existence.

Note that the ANS TV channel was closed after the coup in Turkey in July 2016. The Azerbaijani authorities accused the channel of supporting terrorism and providing air to the Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen, whom Ankara accuses of trying to organize a coup d'etat.

Then the TV channel executives were called in for questioning to the Prosecutor General Office.

While on a business trip in the US, Atashova interviewed Gülen. -05C06--