Murder of prominent Azerbaijani journalist appalls OSCE Office in Baku

BAKU, 3 March 2005 - The OSCE Office in Baku has learned with shock about the murder of Elmar Huseynov, editor-in-chief of the independent weekly news magazine Monitor.

"I am appalled to learn about the killing of Elmar Huseynov. He was an outstanding journalist and a dedicated supporter of the civil development of Azerbaijan," said Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku.

"Elmar Huseynov's death is a great loss for the media in Azerbaijan."

According to information currently available, Elmar Huseynov was shot dead yesterday at around 21:00 in his apartment building in Baku.

The Head of the OSCE Office strongly condemned this inhumane and cowardly act of violence and urged the Azerbaijani authorities to conduct a thorough, swift and exhaustive investigation into the killing of Elmar Huseynov and to make the findings public.

"We hope that those guilty will be brought to justice soon," Ambassador Pavesi said. "We also reaffirm our full commitment to supporting the Azerbaijani government in combating crime and moving the country towards the European mainstream."

Ambassador Pavesi and the staff of the OSCE Office in Baku offer their most sincere condolences to the family of Elmar Huseynov.