The regional correspondent of the Institute of Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR), Elman Abbasov, faced pressure from customs officials at the Sadarak checkpoint.
On August 14, Abbasov went to Turkey as part of an IREX project investigating the migration processes in the region.
Given the previous experience of dealing with customs officers at border crossings, Abbasov asked for a declaration form to declare the things that were with him. However, he was not given the form and was told that he could be checked anyway.
Returning on August, Abbasov was detained and searched with the assistance of the Chief of the Smuggling Section of the Sadarak Customs Point, Vusal Hasanov.
According to Abbasov, the customs officers checked the contents of his flash drive and camera, despite the fact that they contained personal information. In addition, the customs officials roughly searched his luggage and clothes in search of a recorder. Only after Abbasov called his colleagues did the customs officers let him go.
Abbasov and other independent journalists and civil society activists have been repeatedly subjected to pressure by customs official.
The present case with Abbasov, according to observers, was related to local officials’ concern with the journalistic investigations of migration in the region. -06D -
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