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AZERBAIJAN "INVESTIGATES" THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR KARABAKH STORY
EurasiaNet.org
Sept 25 2012
NY
Azerbaijan recently became a no-fly zone for moon-walking American
astronaut Charles Duke and Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier after
they had the indiscretion to set foot in separatist Nagorno Karabakh
without permission from Baku.
Last week, The New York Times' travel section offered a tip to other
explorers about how to visit Karabakh and still be able to hop over
to Azerbaijani-controlled territory later -- namely, just "ask for
the visa to be put on a separate piece of paper that can be removed
from your passport."
The trick is hardly a secret. And one that prudent visitors quickly
learn, with or without a how-to in the American "newspaper of record."
But the Azerbaijani government, its temper taut from jousting with
Karabakh's protector, Armenia, over President Ilham Aliyev's pardon
of axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, charged that sharing this advice was
illegal and has tasked its US embassy to investigate the case.
It is unclear what means are at Baku's disposal to punish The New
York Times should the government decide that its "investigation"
so warrants it.
This time, the well-tested domestic method of arresting troublesome
journalists will not work.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65958
From: A. Papazian
EurasiaNet.org
Sept 25 2012
NY
Azerbaijan recently became a no-fly zone for moon-walking American
astronaut Charles Duke and Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier after
they had the indiscretion to set foot in separatist Nagorno Karabakh
without permission from Baku.
Last week, The New York Times' travel section offered a tip to other
explorers about how to visit Karabakh and still be able to hop over
to Azerbaijani-controlled territory later -- namely, just "ask for
the visa to be put on a separate piece of paper that can be removed
from your passport."
The trick is hardly a secret. And one that prudent visitors quickly
learn, with or without a how-to in the American "newspaper of record."
But the Azerbaijani government, its temper taut from jousting with
Karabakh's protector, Armenia, over President Ilham Aliyev's pardon
of axe-murderer Ramil Safarov, charged that sharing this advice was
illegal and has tasked its US embassy to investigate the case.
It is unclear what means are at Baku's disposal to punish The New
York Times should the government decide that its "investigation"
so warrants it.
This time, the well-tested domestic method of arresting troublesome
journalists will not work.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65958
From: A. Papazian