Pressure on journalists in Nakhchivan continues

Independent journalist   from Nakhchivan, Elman Abbasov, again was  subjected to threats by phone today.

According to Abbasov, the call was made from an open number, however, despite the insistence of the journalist, the caller did not identify himself. The unknown caller accused  Abbasov and his colleague Ilgar Nasibov of  the arrest of businessmen Mamed Mamedov and  Nadir Gurbanov.

Then the  unknown  began to defend the  Ministry of National Security of Nakhchivan,  condemned the journalists for accusing  the National Security Ministry of spying them. Finally, the unknown threatened journalists with death.

According to Elman Abbasov threats are real, because a few days ago his family members were  watched,  and  persecuted. Elman Abbasov called the  relatives of  Mamed Gurbanov, asking if they know this person? However, they say they do not have such a relative.

Journalist regarded it as a  provocation not only against   himself, but also against the relatives of the arrested businessmen.

Elman Abbasov called the "hotline"  of the Interior Ministry of Nakhchivan and reported the incident. However, there was no response. He believes that the cold attitude of the police to the incident  is because the  "unknown"  is a police.

Previously  another unknown attacked Elman Abbasov and Ilgar Nasibov in the street, threatening them with violence.

As for the arrested businessmen, they have become victims of arbitrary local customs. After refusing to pay a bribe for imported goods, the entrepreneurs were beaten and detained.  The journalists that they invited were  also subjected to pressure. -05B05-