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IN US, GEORGIA AND MOLDOVA PROTEST IN DEFENSE OF AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST KHADIJA ISMAYILOVA ARE HELD
13:45 11/12/2014 >> SOCIETY
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/12/11/khadija-ismayilova/
A group of journalists, human rights activists and friends of the
arrested Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova held a protest
in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy in the US, Georgia and Moldova,
"Radio Liberty" reports.
As noted in the article, the United States expressed support for the
protesters and demanded to release Ismayilova immediately.
Participants of the rally called Ismayilova's arrest "unfair" and
"another attempt to shut her mouth and prevent further exposure of
corruption." As stated in the article, after the rally the participants
passed the Azerbaijani embassy the picket of resolution.
"I know what Khadija would say us now: Do not make a problem out of
my arrest - the problem is in the existence of political prisoners
in Azerbaijan," said photojournalist Amanda Rivkin.
Similar protests demanding the immediate release of Khadija Ismailova
have been held in Georgia and Moldova. As the correspondent of
the "Caucasian Knot" reported, the action lasted about an hour in
Tbilisi and passed without incidents. The protest has no organizers,
it was initiated by journalists. During the event the signatures of
participants were gathered in support of Ismayilova. The signatures
later were passed to the Embassy of Azerbaijan.
As noted in the article, at the protest was also present Gaji Gajiyev
an employee of the Azerbaijani representation of the independent TV
channel MeydanTV, who reported that on December 9 the TV channel
was forced to close its Baku based Office. "The things that go on
in Azerbaijan are destructing the civil society. In fact, there is
no civil society, NGOs have been intimidated, arrested and locked
in different ways. And so, on paper, there are many NGOs that are
funded by government and create a background, allegedly there is a
non-governmental sector in our country," he noted.
According to Mai Metskhvarishvili, one of the participants of the
actions, editor of the online publication Netgazeti, before this
arrest there were many other arrests of bloggers, journalists and
human rights activists too in Azerbaijan. "This series of arrests
continue since August, and Khadija's arrest became the last straw,"
said Metskhvarishvili.
Another participant of the rally Tamar Gurchiani told the correspondent
of "Caucasian Knot" that the Azerbaijani government has committed a
huge mistake by arresting the journalist. "The government repeats
this mistake for a long time, arrests people who criticize him,
journalists, human rights activists. The authorities must understand
that the international community would not forgive," says Gurchiani.
As the "Echo of the Caucasus" notes, supporters of the journalists
held a rally next the Azerbaijani Embassy in Chisinau. "A common action
in support of Ismayilova was held today in Batumi at the consulate of
Azerbaijan. Georgian journalists gathered here expressed solidarity to
their Azerbaijani colleague and demanded an objective investigation,"
reads the article.
On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija
Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor's
office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for
two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault
of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of
3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of
attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova
is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption
in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is
conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of "Radio Liberty".
13:45 11/12/2014 >> SOCIETY
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/12/11/khadija-ismayilova/
A group of journalists, human rights activists and friends of the
arrested Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova held a protest
in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy in the US, Georgia and Moldova,
"Radio Liberty" reports.
As noted in the article, the United States expressed support for the
protesters and demanded to release Ismayilova immediately.
Participants of the rally called Ismayilova's arrest "unfair" and
"another attempt to shut her mouth and prevent further exposure of
corruption." As stated in the article, after the rally the participants
passed the Azerbaijani embassy the picket of resolution.
"I know what Khadija would say us now: Do not make a problem out of
my arrest - the problem is in the existence of political prisoners
in Azerbaijan," said photojournalist Amanda Rivkin.
Similar protests demanding the immediate release of Khadija Ismailova
have been held in Georgia and Moldova. As the correspondent of
the "Caucasian Knot" reported, the action lasted about an hour in
Tbilisi and passed without incidents. The protest has no organizers,
it was initiated by journalists. During the event the signatures of
participants were gathered in support of Ismayilova. The signatures
later were passed to the Embassy of Azerbaijan.
As noted in the article, at the protest was also present Gaji Gajiyev
an employee of the Azerbaijani representation of the independent TV
channel MeydanTV, who reported that on December 9 the TV channel
was forced to close its Baku based Office. "The things that go on
in Azerbaijan are destructing the civil society. In fact, there is
no civil society, NGOs have been intimidated, arrested and locked
in different ways. And so, on paper, there are many NGOs that are
funded by government and create a background, allegedly there is a
non-governmental sector in our country," he noted.
According to Mai Metskhvarishvili, one of the participants of the
actions, editor of the online publication Netgazeti, before this
arrest there were many other arrests of bloggers, journalists and
human rights activists too in Azerbaijan. "This series of arrests
continue since August, and Khadija's arrest became the last straw,"
said Metskhvarishvili.
Another participant of the rally Tamar Gurchiani told the correspondent
of "Caucasian Knot" that the Azerbaijani government has committed a
huge mistake by arresting the journalist. "The government repeats
this mistake for a long time, arrests people who criticize him,
journalists, human rights activists. The authorities must understand
that the international community would not forgive," says Gurchiani.
As the "Echo of the Caucasus" notes, supporters of the journalists
held a rally next the Azerbaijani Embassy in Chisinau. "A common action
in support of Ismayilova was held today in Batumi at the consulate of
Azerbaijan. Georgian journalists gathered here expressed solidarity to
their Azerbaijani colleague and demanded an objective investigation,"
reads the article.
On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija
Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor's
office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for
two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault
of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of
3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of
attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova
is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption
in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is
conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of "Radio Liberty".