Tweet
Al Jazeera: ''Armenian factor'' - another popular tool used by
governmental circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan
19:15 19/01/2015 >> POLITICS
"So long as President Ilham Aliyev keeps saying there are no political
prisoners and no limitations on freedom of speech in Azerbaijan -
conjuring the illusion of a democratic country - little is going to
change in this country," reads the article of Arzu Geybullayeva, a
specialist in human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan, posted on
the website of the TV channel "Al Jazeera."
She notes that while global media is focused on debating the
limitations on free speech in France following the attack on the
French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, it is worth remembering that
France is not the only country whose media professionals are targeted.
"For years, journalists in Azerbaijan have suffered harsh penalties
for defending their freedom of speech - from prison sentences to
interrogation and the confiscation of broadcasting equipment,"
Geybullayeva writes, turning to the topic of the police raid on the
RFE/RL Baku office on 26 December, and its being seales shut. That
incident came as a part of the ongoing criminal investigation against
foreign-funded entities in Azerbaijan.
It is noted in the article, that similar measures were taken against
Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), the Media Rights
Institute, and International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), with
IREX leaving the country shortly after, and the director of IRFS, Emin
Huseynov, still remaining in hiding.
The author reminds that that was not the first time the Azerbaijani
service of RFE/RL was targeted by the authorities. In 2009, its FM
broadcast was shut down, with BBC radio service and Voice of America
following suit. For years, the Azerbaijani police harassed the radio's
reporters, often confiscating or breaking their equipment or detaining
them for interrogation.
On December 5 RFE/RL investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova was
detained with the accusation of "incitement to suicide" and still
remains in jail - even though her accuser, Tural Mustafayev, has
withdrawn his complaint. On December 30, the Baku Court of Appeal
dismissed Ismayilova's appeal for house arrest. Prior to this charge,
Ismayilova was already facing a criminal trial for posting a document
on Facebook revealing the identity of an informant for Azerbaijan's
intelligence services, Geybullayeva writes, adding that Ismayilova is
recognised internationally for uncovering many of the hidden and
illegal business dealings of the ruling Aliyev clan, and is a winner
of many awards.
Geybullayeva also notes that only a day before the detention of
Ismayilova and a few weeks before the shutting of "Radio Liberty"
Ramiz Mehdiyev, the chief of staff of the Azerbaijani President,
published an article accusing Ismayilova of treason and of spying for
her foreign patrons. Noting that Ismayilova and her colleagues are
spreading lies about the Azerbaijani government, he comes to conclude
that it is the same as working for the foreign secret service.
Siyavush Novruzov, an MP from the ruling party shares his point of
view, noting that "every place that works for foreign intelligence and
the Armenian lobby should be searched."
The author stresses that the Armenian lobby is just another popular
tool used by government circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan.
Despite its support for Track Two diplomacy initiatives, Aliyev's
regime was quick to accuse Leyla Yunus and Rauf Mirkadirov, who were
engaged in public diplomacy initiatives pressing for reconciliation
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, of treason and spying for Armenia.
Despite the fact, that Azerbaijan continues to maintain a steady
relationship with Europe and the image of a transforming young and
rich country, there is little hope for the country's positive
transformation, with many of the country's prominent advocates,
lawyers, and journalists in jail; independent media platforms under
attack; and only a handful of international non-governmental
organisations left in the country.
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/01/19/jazeera-az/
governmental circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan
19:15 19/01/2015 >> POLITICS
"So long as President Ilham Aliyev keeps saying there are no political
prisoners and no limitations on freedom of speech in Azerbaijan -
conjuring the illusion of a democratic country - little is going to
change in this country," reads the article of Arzu Geybullayeva, a
specialist in human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan, posted on
the website of the TV channel "Al Jazeera."
She notes that while global media is focused on debating the
limitations on free speech in France following the attack on the
French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, it is worth remembering that
France is not the only country whose media professionals are targeted.
"For years, journalists in Azerbaijan have suffered harsh penalties
for defending their freedom of speech - from prison sentences to
interrogation and the confiscation of broadcasting equipment,"
Geybullayeva writes, turning to the topic of the police raid on the
RFE/RL Baku office on 26 December, and its being seales shut. That
incident came as a part of the ongoing criminal investigation against
foreign-funded entities in Azerbaijan.
It is noted in the article, that similar measures were taken against
Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), the Media Rights
Institute, and International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), with
IREX leaving the country shortly after, and the director of IRFS, Emin
Huseynov, still remaining in hiding.
The author reminds that that was not the first time the Azerbaijani
service of RFE/RL was targeted by the authorities. In 2009, its FM
broadcast was shut down, with BBC radio service and Voice of America
following suit. For years, the Azerbaijani police harassed the radio's
reporters, often confiscating or breaking their equipment or detaining
them for interrogation.
On December 5 RFE/RL investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova was
detained with the accusation of "incitement to suicide" and still
remains in jail - even though her accuser, Tural Mustafayev, has
withdrawn his complaint. On December 30, the Baku Court of Appeal
dismissed Ismayilova's appeal for house arrest. Prior to this charge,
Ismayilova was already facing a criminal trial for posting a document
on Facebook revealing the identity of an informant for Azerbaijan's
intelligence services, Geybullayeva writes, adding that Ismayilova is
recognised internationally for uncovering many of the hidden and
illegal business dealings of the ruling Aliyev clan, and is a winner
of many awards.
Geybullayeva also notes that only a day before the detention of
Ismayilova and a few weeks before the shutting of "Radio Liberty"
Ramiz Mehdiyev, the chief of staff of the Azerbaijani President,
published an article accusing Ismayilova of treason and of spying for
her foreign patrons. Noting that Ismayilova and her colleagues are
spreading lies about the Azerbaijani government, he comes to conclude
that it is the same as working for the foreign secret service.
Siyavush Novruzov, an MP from the ruling party shares his point of
view, noting that "every place that works for foreign intelligence and
the Armenian lobby should be searched."
The author stresses that the Armenian lobby is just another popular
tool used by government circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan.
Despite its support for Track Two diplomacy initiatives, Aliyev's
regime was quick to accuse Leyla Yunus and Rauf Mirkadirov, who were
engaged in public diplomacy initiatives pressing for reconciliation
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, of treason and spying for Armenia.
Despite the fact, that Azerbaijan continues to maintain a steady
relationship with Europe and the image of a transforming young and
rich country, there is little hope for the country's positive
transformation, with many of the country's prominent advocates,
lawyers, and journalists in jail; independent media platforms under
attack; and only a handful of international non-governmental
organisations left in the country.
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/01/19/jazeera-az/