OSCE media freedom representative urges Azerbaijan to stop continued intimidation of jailed journalist

VIENNA, 10 March 2011 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, called today upon the government of Azerbaijan to stop systematic intimidation of jailed journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, live up to its OSCE media-freedom commitments and comply with a European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) judgment ordering his immediate release.

On 2 March, the former chief editor of the Realny Azerbaijan and Gündalik Azarbaycan newspapers was transferred to Prison Colony No. 1 in Baku, despite his petition to the Justice Ministry to serve his jail term in another detention facility where he would feel safer. Citing potential threats to his life after his transfer, Fatullayev requested to be in solitary confinement.

“I am deeply worried about Fatullayev’s safety and deteriorating health, and seriously concerned by reports that his family has been continuously receiving anonymous threats,” Mijatović said. “I call upon the Azerbaijani authorities to live up to its OSCE media freedom commitments and take all necessary steps to ensure full safety of the journalist and his relatives.”

The ECtHR on 22 April 2010 ruled that Fatullayev had been wrongfully sentenced and demanded his immediate release. It also ordered the Azerbaijani government to pay the journalist 25,000 euros in damages and another 2,822 euros in respect of costs and expenses.

However, neither Fatullayev nor his family members have been able to access the money, since the government deposited it into a bank account that was frozen in 2007 on terrorism charges that were eventually dismissed by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.

On 6 July 2010, a district court in Baku sentenced Fatullayev to an additional two-and-a-half years in prison on questionable criminal charges. This judgment was upheld on 25 January.

“Not only are the Azerbaijani authorities ignoring the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, but they also continue to systematically harass Fatullayev,” Mijatović said. “This must stop at once, and Fatullayev should be set free without delay.”