Volodymyr Ariev (Ukraine, EPP/CD), General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Media Freedom and the Safety of Journalists, today expressed concern regarding the detention of the Director of Turan agency (Azerbaijan) Mehman Aliyev. According to Turan agency, Mr Aliyev is detained in the Yasamal district police department, where he was taken from the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Taxes in the context of a criminal investigation for under-declaring profits.
"I call on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release Mehman Aliyev and abstain from using criminal code to investigate the case. Turan has already faced similar allegations in the past, and an audit conducted previously demonstrated that the agency was complying with its tax obligations. The Azerbaijani authorities must avoid any acts potentially having chilling effect on the freedom of the press in this country," Mr Ariev said.
Turan is considered by many media freedom organisations as one of the last remaining independent media outlets in Azerbaijan. The agency denies the allegations of tax evasion and believes the proceedings are part of a government-orchestrated campaign to limit the organisation's critical reporting.
This case is being monitored by the Council of Europe Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists. No reply has been received yet from the Azerbaijani authorities.-0-
Social
-
Recently, concerns have been widely discussed in Azerbaijan regarding certain doctors performing plastic surgeries without the proper qualifications. According to various reports, some of these practitioners do not even possess valid medical diplomas. It has been alleged that individuals with fake medical diplomas are employed in various clinics.
-
Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has reignited the debate over the mental fitness of public officials by proposing cognitive tests for those holding office. Musk's suggestion came in the wake of an incident involving 81-year-old U.S. Congressman Kay Granger, who reportedly got lost on the street and was later admitted to a dementia care facility.
-
On December 24, no precipitation is expected in the capital. Foggy conditions may occur in some areas in the morning and evening. A southwest wind will shift to the northwest in the evening.
-
Azercell becomes the first mobile operator in Azerbaijan to introduce balance top-up through tokenized payments Azercell continues to enhance mobile payment experiences, pursuing its commitment to deliver cutting-edge digital solutions. The leading mobile operator has integrated Apple Pay and Google Pay into its mobile app, offering subscribers a faster, more secure, and highly convenient way to top up their balances.
Leave a review