All journalists imprisoned because of their work should be set free, OSCE media freedom representative says

VIENNA, 19 November 2010 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic welcomed Azerbaijani authorities' release today of a second jailed Azerbaijani blogger and urged that authorities also set free a journalist who remains imprisoned.

A district court in Baku today ordered that blogger Emin Milli be set free after serving more than half of a prison term handed to him following a conviction on contested hooliganism and other charges. The Baku Appellate Court yesterday took a similar decision with regard to another jailed blogger, Adnan Hacizade. However, journalist Eynulla Fatullayev remains in prison.

"I am encouraged by these positive developments. The Azerbaijani authorities should now build on this trend and release Fatullayev from custody without delay," Mijatovic said.

"Our societies should not be afraid of written and spoken words. With the OSCE Summit in Astana approaching, all OSCE participating States that keep in jail people whose only crime is to express their opinions should set them free."