The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) Letter to President of France François Hollande

Palais de L'Élysée

55 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

75008 Paris, France

13 March 2017

Dear President Hollande,

As you prepare for your meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev we would like to call a few points to your attention and ask you to stand up for the basic human rights that your government was instrumental in creating the basis of nearly 228 years ago with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789. This document is still held in high regard in France today and you have improved and strengthened your commitment to human rights since then. Article 11 of the Rights of Man was expanded on in the press law of 1881 to support the rights of journalists. 

The Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) is an organisation committed to promoting accountable journalism and freedom of expression. Aliyev’s regime seems to only respond to political or financial pressure from the outside. The 3 March shocking fraudulent conviction of the IRFS Chairman, leading blogger Mehman Huseynov to a two-year prison term should be the last call for Azerbaijan’s partners to respond harshly to Baku’s repression. According to the European Union the sentencing of Mehman Huseynov “raises serious questions both as regards respect for freedom of expression and due process of law”.

This regime forces political critics into exile or behind bars as you know from your support of Leyla Yunis who was both imprisoned and is now in exile. The people of Azerbaijan need support from leaders like you who can hold this regime to account through political and financial pressure. France has a much more prolific history of supporting human rights and we call on you to condemn the Azerbaijani authorities and government for imprisoning approximately 150 political prisoners on ridiculous charges such as racketeering and hooliganism. Many of the recent arrests come right after the political critics had been hacked which points to further violations of freedom of expression by the regime.

As one of the founders of the Council of Europe, France should take a tougher line with member states that fail to fulfill obligations. If member states are allowed to get away with blatant violations and fail to comply with the Council of Europe's rules and treaties, just like Azerbaijan does, the organisation, as such, loses both respect and influence.

We would like to show our deep respect for your decision not to run for a second term as president. You have thoughtfully taken the will of the people into consideration and despite your desire to work hard for them you decided that they know best. This type of selflessness in politics is unheard of in Azerbaijan. The same people have been in power since we gained independence and they manipulate the constitution and elections to ensure that they maintain power. 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We hope that we can count on your principled position at this critical juncture.

Respectfully,    

Emin Huseynov  

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder