OSCE representative calls on Azerbaijani law enforcement to stop harassing and discrediting investigative journalists
VIENNA, 11 April 2008 - Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, expressed his concern today over the continuing persecution of investigative journalists in Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies have recently fabricated accusations against several independent investigative journalists. This is especially regrettable in a democracy that has overcome the era when prosecutors faked cases against those with ideas that the government did not like," said Haraszti at the end of his visit to Baku.
He was referring to the cases of Eynulla Fatullayev, the editor-in-chief of the dailies Realniy Azerbaijan and Gundelik Azerbaycan, and Ganimat Zahidov and Sakit Zahidov of the opposition Azadliq newspaper. Haraszti visited them in prison on 7 and 8 April.
"All three journalists are serving sentences based on made-up charges, such as terrorism, tax evasion, drug possession and hooliganism," said Haraszti. "The most recent case of Agil Khalil, in addition to three other journalists currently in prison, further demonstrates the dangerous trend of improper involvement of law enforcement in fighting critical voices."
On 17 March, Haraszti demanded investigations into the assaults against Azadliq correspondent Agil Khalil, who was beaten up by senior national security officers while covering the illegal cutting down of olive trees on a Baku municipal estate. He was later followed, threatened, and stabbed. The officers who beat him have been identified, but continue to remain at large.
"Instead of investigating the connection between the beating and the stabbing of Agil Khalil, the prosecution has started a campaign to discredit him," said Haraszti.
Khalil's family has named the investigator, who they said threatened to give the media a video compilation dishonouring the reporter unless Khalil would blame the stabbing on an another Azadliq reporter or himself. As the family and Khalil refused to comply, a half-hour video stating that the stabbing of Khalil was related to an alleged homosexual relationship went on air on 7 April.
"I call on the TV channels which disgracefully aired this smear campaign to stop being a tool in a propaganda drive against one of their colleagues. I also call on law enforcement bodies to stop the wave of smear campaigns and bring to justice the perpetrators of violence against journalists like Agil Khalil, and those responsible for the 2005 murder of Monitor editor Elmar Huseynov," said Haraszti.
The OSCE Representative asked the Azerbaijani government to release the imprisoned journalists, regardless of whether they have signed pardoning petitions, and to stop the persecution of the few remaining critical media in the country, adding that it was time "to start the long due reform on decriminalization of speech offences".
While in Baku, Haraszti met Azerbaijani officials, including the Head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehtiev, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, and the General Prosecutor Zakir Qaralov.