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OSCE condemns Azerbaijani authorities
18:33, 15 June, 2012
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS: The OSCE Representative on Freedom of
the Media, Dunja MijatoviÄ?, has expressed her concern over the
persistent intimidation of journalists and attempts to restrict access
to information in Azerbaijan, Armenpress reports citing the OSCE
official website.`Only a week ago, I welcomed the release of social
media activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, expressing hope that more good news
would come from Azerbaijan,' she said. `Unfortunately, today I have to
bring recent negative developments to the attention of the
authorities,' she said. In a letter sent to Azerbaijan's Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov yesterday, MijatoviÄ? raised the case of
photo blogger Mehman Hüseynov, who faces up to five years in prison on
hooliganism charges over an argument he reportedly had with law
enforcement officers while covering a demonstration in Baku. In the
letter, MijatoviÄ? also raised the case of Anar Bayramli, a journalist
working for Iranian media outlets, who was sentenced on 11 June to two
years in prison on drug possession charges which he denies. `I hope
that the charges against Hüseynov will be dropped, and that all
imprisoned journalists will be released soon, including Zaur Quliyev
and Vüqar Qonaqov of the Khayal TV channel,' MjatoviÄ? said.
`Imprisoning reporters is never the right answer to critical
journalism. The media should be free to play their essential role in
society,' she stressed. Mijatovic also expressed concern over the
adoption by the parliament (Milli Mejlis) on 12 June of amendments to
the laws `On Receiving Information,' `On the State Registry and the
State Registration of Juridical Persons,' and `On Commercial Secrets'.
The changes will make certain types of information no longer
accessible to the public. `These amendments could have a very
negative, long-term impact on media freedom and access to information.
This is all the more regrettable given that Azerbaijan's legislation
on access to information used to be one of the best in the OSCE
region,' MijatoviÄ? said. `I call on the authorities to do their utmost
to reverse these recent negative developments. My Office stands ready
to assist Azerbaijan in better fulfilling its media freedom
commitments,' MijatoviÄ? stressed.
18:33, 15 June, 2012
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS: The OSCE Representative on Freedom of
the Media, Dunja MijatoviÄ?, has expressed her concern over the
persistent intimidation of journalists and attempts to restrict access
to information in Azerbaijan, Armenpress reports citing the OSCE
official website.`Only a week ago, I welcomed the release of social
media activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, expressing hope that more good news
would come from Azerbaijan,' she said. `Unfortunately, today I have to
bring recent negative developments to the attention of the
authorities,' she said. In a letter sent to Azerbaijan's Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov yesterday, MijatoviÄ? raised the case of
photo blogger Mehman Hüseynov, who faces up to five years in prison on
hooliganism charges over an argument he reportedly had with law
enforcement officers while covering a demonstration in Baku. In the
letter, MijatoviÄ? also raised the case of Anar Bayramli, a journalist
working for Iranian media outlets, who was sentenced on 11 June to two
years in prison on drug possession charges which he denies. `I hope
that the charges against Hüseynov will be dropped, and that all
imprisoned journalists will be released soon, including Zaur Quliyev
and Vüqar Qonaqov of the Khayal TV channel,' MjatoviÄ? said.
`Imprisoning reporters is never the right answer to critical
journalism. The media should be free to play their essential role in
society,' she stressed. Mijatovic also expressed concern over the
adoption by the parliament (Milli Mejlis) on 12 June of amendments to
the laws `On Receiving Information,' `On the State Registry and the
State Registration of Juridical Persons,' and `On Commercial Secrets'.
The changes will make certain types of information no longer
accessible to the public. `These amendments could have a very
negative, long-term impact on media freedom and access to information.
This is all the more regrettable given that Azerbaijan's legislation
on access to information used to be one of the best in the OSCE
region,' MijatoviÄ? said. `I call on the authorities to do their utmost
to reverse these recent negative developments. My Office stands ready
to assist Azerbaijan in better fulfilling its media freedom
commitments,' MijatoviÄ? stressed.