28 Nov 19 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
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Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project tracks press freedom violations in five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Learn more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”3 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Several Journalists detained and beaten during protests
19 October 2019 – Multiple media outlets reported the arrest and assault of journalists during an unsanctioned rally against corruption and low wages in Baku.
Journalists detained during the rally included Gulnaz Gambarli, Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli), Farid Ismayilov, Mehin Kerimi, Abulfat Bakhshali, Vugar Mirzabay and Fatima Movlamli, as well as blogger Mehman Huseynov. All were released shortly after.
According to the independent reporter Ulviyya Ali, Nurlan Libre was assaulted in the police car after being detained at the rally. At least three journalists were reported to have sustained minor injuries as a result of police actions: Sevinc Vagifqizi sustained bruises on her arms, while Ramin Deko and Shahla Abbasova also sustained minor injuries. Journalist Tazakhan Miralamli was held at the police station for more than four hours. None of the journalists filed complaints against the police.
More than 80 people were reportedly arrested during the protests in October, including at least eight journalists.
Limitation to media freedom: arrest/detention/interrogation; property damage; physical assault
Source of violation: public/state security;
Links: https://twitter.com/UlviyyaAli/status/1185478151754924032?s=20
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-azerbaijan-opposition-protests/azeri-police-detain-scores-of-protesters-including-opposition-party-leader-idUSKBN1WY0DM
https://www.rferl.org/a/police-arrest-opposition-activists-ahead-of-baku-rally/30225138.html
https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/19-oktyabr-mitinqinde-polisin-hedefine-cevrilen-jurnalistler/?ref=homepage-featured-video
Journalist Seymur Hezi arrested ahead of protests
17 October 2019 – Meydan TV journalist Seymur Hezi was arrested while leaving his house in Baku two days before a scheduled protest, Hezi’s wife Nigar told the Committee to Protect Journalists. He was sentenced to 15 days in administrative detention for alleged hooliganism and noncompliance with police orders. Hazi was reportedly intending to cover the protests, which were due to take place on 19 October.
The arrest came less than two months after the journalist was released from prison, where he served 5 years on charges of hooliganism. Hazi was recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. The European Court of Human Rights had ruled that his detention was illegal.
Updates:
29 October 2019 – Azadliq Radio reported that Seymur Hezi was sentenced to an additional 15 days in administrative detention.
17 November 2019 – Azadliq Radio reported that Seymur Hezi was released.
Limitation to media freedom: arrest/detention/interrogation;
Source of violation: court/judicial
Links: https://cpj.org/2019/10/azerbaijani-journalist-seymur-hazi-detained-in-run.php
https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-detains-opposition-leader-and-reportedly-many-more
https://www.azadliq.org/a/otuz-gunluk-hebs-muddeti-basha-chatan-seymur-hezi-azadliqda/30275204.html
https://www.azadliq.org/a/mitinqd%C9%99-tutulanlar%C4%B1n-h%C9%99bs-m%C3%BCdd%C9%99ti-niy%C9%99-art%C4%B1r%C4%B1l%C4%B1r-xeberler/30242796.html
https://turkustan.info/2019/10/29/seymur-h%C9%99zinin-h%C9%99bs-mudd%C9%99ti-uzadildi/
http://teref.az/hadise/132289-seymur-hezinin-hebs-muddeti-uzadildi.html
Arson attempt on journalist Javid Shiraliyev’s house
16 October 2019 – Online news site Sozcu.az reported that 7gun.az’s editor, Javid Shiraliyev, was the victim of an attempted arson attack. His house was set on fire in the early hours of 16 October. 7gun.az had previously published a series of stories about corruption in Azerbaijan.
Shiraliyev said that despite the family being at home at the time of the incident, no one was injured. He had reported the incident to the police.
Shiraliyev said he believed that the attack was in retaliation for the series of stories his outlet published about corruption and local governance violations in Masalli administrative district.
Links: https://www.abzas.net/2019/10/jurnalist-yazilarina-gor%c9%99-evinin-yandirilmasina-c%c9%99hd-gost%c9%99rildiyini-deyib/
https://sozcu.az/masallida-jurnalistin-evini-yandirmaq-ist-yibl-r/
Limitation to media freedom: property damage;
Source of violation: unknown[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1574783884308-a5185785-918d-4″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
14 Oct 19 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
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Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project tracks press freedom violations in five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Learn more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”3 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Journalist beaten and then detained while reporting
Journalist Nurlan Gahramanli was attacked by police and private security staff in September
30 September 2019 – Freelance journalist Nurlan Gahramanli was filming a group of Karabakh war veterans being beaten by the State Oil Company security staff when he was attacked by the police and SOCAR security staff. He was beaten and sustained an injury on his face, before being taken to the police station where he was questioned. He was released later the same day.
In interviews with Meydan TV, the war veterans said that they were attacked by the SOCAR staff over a property which they say they acquired legally. SOCAR, in a statement, said that the building was acquired illegally and requested that the veterans pay a bribe to keep the property.
They say that their staff engaged in no physical violence and that the police were called. Police and the relevant government institutions are investigating.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/MeydanTelevision/videos/2457266644371148/
https://www.facebook.com/HamamTimes/videos/953324968350052/
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation; attack to property;
Source of violation: public/state security;
Journalist detained outside court room
23 September 2019 – Voice of America’s Azerbaijan correspondent Tapdig Farhadoglu was detained outside the Grave Crimes Investigation Unit building, according to the independent outlet Contact.az.
Farhadolgu was filming protesters outside the building when police abruptly stopped him, confiscated his camera and microphone, and took him to the police station where his phone was also confiscated. He was prevented from contacting his family or his lawyer.
He was released half an hour later, after receiving a warning not to engage in such activities again.
Links: http://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/9/free/Social/ru/83950.htm
https://criminal.az/jurnalist-tapdiq-ferhadolunu-polisler-saxlayib/
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/amerikan%c4%b1n-s%c9%99sinin-jurnalisti-tapd%c4%b1q-f%c9%99rhado%c4%9flu-aksiya-zaman%c4%b1-polis-t%c9%99zyiqi-il%c9%99-%c3%bczl%c9%99%c5%9fib/5094592.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dlvr.it
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation; attack to property;
Source of violation: public/state security;
Journalist subject to physical violence
11 September 2019 – Tezehan Miralamli, a journalist with the opposition newspaper Azadliq, was covering a court case against opposition activist and member of Popular Front, Ruslan Amirli, when he was attacked by police officers who tried to push a group of journalists away from the courthouse.
Miralamli fell to the ground and received minor injuries. Azadliq condemned the forceful removal of journalists from the scene, and called for a fair investigation into the actions of the police.
Links: https://www.facebook.com/Gozetciportali/videos/361360401484419/
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/s%C9%99rh%C9%99dsiz-reportyorlar-jurnalistin-fiziki-t%C9%99qibi-informasiya-azadl%C4%B1%C4%9F%C4%B1n%C4%B1n-pozulmas%C4%B1d%C4%B1r/5080562.html
http://toplum.tv/az/jurnalist-mehkemeye-muraciet-edeceyini-deyir/
https://gozetci.az/azadliq-q%c9%99zeti-%c9%99m%c9%99kdasina-zor-t%c9%99tbiq-olundugunu-b%c9%99yan-edib/
Categories: physical assault/injury
Source of violation: police/state security;[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1571227966662-718da11a-d7c2-3″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
11 Sep 19 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
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Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project tracks press freedom violations in five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Learn more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”2 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Court upholds Khadija Ismayilova’s probation period
Journalist Khadija Ismayilova was the subject of both violations this month.
12 August 2019 – Investigative reporter, Khadija Ismayilova’s request for an early end to her probation period was rejected, according to the Turan news agency.
The Binagadi district court refused to satisfy journalist’s request on the grounds the journalist was not fully recovered.
Ismayilova was released on probation in 2016 after having served a year and a half of her seven and a half year sentence. Her probationary sentence forbids Ismayilova from leaving the country or working.
Links: https://ifex.org/azerbaijan-khadija-ismayilovas-request-for-early-end-to-her-probation-rejected/
https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/8/free/Social/en/83009.htm
https://www.azadliq.org/a/x%C9%99dic%C9%99-ismay%C4%B1l-m%C9%99hkumlu%C4%9Fun-l%C9%99%C4%9Fvini-ist%C9%99yir/30083659.html
Categories: criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuit;
Sources of violation: court/judicial
Court upholds charges of tax evasion against Khadija Ismayilova
7 August 2019 – The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld charges of tax evasion against investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova, the independent Turan News Agency reported.
The journalist has been ordered to pay 45,145 Azerbaijani manats to tax authorities, who claim Ismayilova intentionally avoided paying taxes during her time as Bureau chief of Azadliq Radio.
Ismayilova said she considers the decision unlawful and that now she has exhausted all domestic legal remedies, she will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Links: https://www.azadliq.org/a/x%C9%99dic%C9%99-ismay%C4%B1l%C4%B1n-m%C9%99hk%C9%99m%C9%99si/30098186.html
https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/8/free/Social/en/82962.htm
Categories: criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuit;
Sources of violation: court/judicial[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1575028108260-b66cab02-1f6d-6″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
06 Aug 19 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
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Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project tracks press freedom violations in five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Learn more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”5 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Editor detained during border crossing
31 July 2019 – Editor of an online website hefteaz.info Agil Mahmudov was detained while crossing the Azerbaijan-Georgia border independent Turan news agency reported.
Mahmudov was informed that a travel ban has been imposed against the journalist by the Ministry of the Interior.
The reason for the imposed travel ban is reportedly Mahmudov’s administrative arrest in 2018.
Mahmudov said the ban was absolutely illegal as he completed the full sentence which was twenty days. The journalist plans to appeal the travel ban.
Links: https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/7/free/Social/en/82742.htm
https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/47978/
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation;
Sources of violation: government/state agency/public official/political party;
Editor now allowed to leave the country
Update:
3 August 2019 – Travel ban on the journalist Parviz Hashimli was reportedly lifted according to independent Turan news agency.
Hashimli, said, he was informed via a phone call from the Baku city prosecutor office.
30 July 2019 – Former political prisoner, journalist and editor of an online news site gununsesi.org Parviz Hashimli, was prevented from leaving the country reported independent Turan news agency.
Hashimli was stopped while crossing Azerbaijan-Russia border and informed his travel ban imposed last year was still valid.
Hashimli has appealed to remove the travel ban in May.
Links: https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/7/free/Social/en/82698.htm
https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/8/free/Social/en/82812.htm
Categories: criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuit
Sources of violation: government/state agency/public official/political party
Police disperse journalists during a protest
Journalist Seymur Hezi was arrested in August 2014. He was subsequently convicted of aggravated hooliganism and sentenced to five years in prison.
22 July 2019 – 22 July marked National Press day in Azerbaijan. A group of journalists gathered outside the press council offices in the capital Baku reported independent Azadliq Radio, Azerbaijan service for Radio Free Europe.
The group first gathered outside the ministry of internal affairs and then moved to the headquarters of the press council office calling to end persecution of journalists in the country and immediate release of journalists Afgan Mukhtarli and Seymur Hezi.
Police dispersed the group and briefly detained one reporter from online TV channel Kanal 13.
The group did manage to meet with the spokeperson for the press council and asked him why there the council it not pressurising authorities to release journalists. The spokeperson, said, the council has not received any official complaint from the journalists about their difficult working conditions or imprisoned journalists.
Links: https://oc-media.org/journalist-detained-in-baku-on-national-press-day/
https://www.azadliq.org/a/reportyorlar-etiraz-etdil%C9%99r-/30068663.html
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation;
Source of violation: police/state security
Website DDoSed (virtual road)
18 July 2019 – Exiled news media platform azerbaycansaati.tv was knocked offline. The site became unreachable and its domain name was no longer available, according to Qurium, that supports a number of DDoSed websites in Azerbaijan.
Following detailed analysis, Qurium Media Foundation was able to confirm that the website was indeed DDoSed.
Links: https://www.qurium.org/alerts/azerbaijan/ddos-the-inconvenient-business-visitor/
Categories: ddos/hacking/doxing;
Source of violation: unknown
Journalist summoned for questioning
3 July 2019 – Anar Mammadov, editor for criminal.az online news site, was called in for questioning by police, Azadliq Radio reported.
In an interview with the outlet, Mammadov said that the police wanted to speak to him about two articles the website he is managing published recently.
The first article is about a robbery and the inability of the local police officers to solve the crime. The second article is about the alleged thief, who was arrested and released the following day.
Mammadov told Azadliq Radio that during the questioning police officers were polite but said that Mammadov was biased and was unjust to law enforcement.
Azadliq Radio is the Azerbaijan service for Radio Free Europe.
Background:
18 March 2019 – Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Anar Mammadov, editor of an independent news website criminalaz.com to five years and 6 months of suspended sentence reported Azadliq Radio, Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe.
Mammadov, is currently on a two year probation period. He cannot leave the country and must report to the relevant state body.
Mammadov considers himself innocent.
Criminal.az is an independent website covering predominantly crime-related stories. The website was blocked by the authorities in 2017, along with a number of other critical and independent news websites. It later began operating under the criminalaz.com domain, which was recently blocked.
Mammadov was questioned after publishing reports on an attempt on the life of the mayor of Ganja, Elmar Valiyev, on 3 July 2018.
Links: https://www.azadliq.org/a/anar-m%C9%99mm%C9%99dova-polisd%C9%99-n%C9%99-deyilib/30035526.html
https://gozetci.az/en/report/?item=1053
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation; criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuits; legal measures;
Source of violation: police/state security; government/state agency/public officials/political party; court/judicial[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1567415379736-e118aa53-6b1b-9″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
