Journalists outsmarted the police

Again journalist was detained in Baku – 21 representatives of different media were illegally detained by police, and taken to the Yasamal Police Office N27 without any reason.

At 18:00 the journalists gathered I near the metro station "Nizami" to give coverage on the action of solidarity with Khadija Ismailova, a correspondent of "Azadliq" radio, which is subjected to harassment and blackmail by the authorities.

However, the police arrested not only the participants of the action, but also those who were going to cover the action. The police confiscated their video camera, and women’s bags.

The police asked the detainees their home address, phone numbers, and belonging to any political parties. 

Then the police and men in civilian demanded them to delete all the photos and video recordings made prior in front of the metro station and at the time of arrest. The police told reporters not to participate and not to report "illegal" actions. However, the journalists were able to deceive the policemen, and save all photos and video records. 

Commenting on the actions of police, the Director of the Media Rights Institute, Rashid Hajili said that the media law prohibits anyone to prevent the work of journalists.  In this case, freedom of assembly was also violated. Destruction of photo and video materials is a violation of intellectual property rights. "It again indicates that the government is unable to provide even the right of journalists, or its ordinary citizens." -05B-