OSCE Office in Baku deeply concerned at continuing acts of violence against journalists

BAKU, 27 December 2006 - In a statement issued today, the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, Robin Seaword, said that his office was deeply concerned at reports of two further instances of violence against members of the opposition press.

"We are particularly alarmed at the apparent impunity with which such attacks are perpetrated in public places and in broad daylight," he said.

"It is extremely worrying that, despite assurances by the authorities that those responsible will be found and brought to justice, the perpetrators of numerous such acts continue to remain at large and appear to be able to act without fear of arrest. The public's confidence in the Police's ability to protect citizens must surely be brought into question as a result.

"We call upon those responsible for maintaining law and order in Azerbaijan to redouble their efforts to identify and arraign the attackers and to take immediate, concrete measures to protect the lives of journalists and their right to work.

"This year has seen a sharp rise in incidents related to media freedom, from criminal libel cases, to evictions, closures and numerous physical attacks upon journalists themselves. The necessary will to provide adequate circumstances for the media to pursue its profession freely is clearly absent and can only cause damage to the country's reputation as it strives to embrace democratic ideals," Mr Seaword said.