04 Jul 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]
Journalist detained for high treason
12 June 2019 – Journalist Polad Aslanov, chief editor of independent news websites Xeberman and Press-az was arrested on charges of high treason according to his lawyer Elchin Sadigov, Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reported.
The journalist is facing a life sentence if found guilty.
Update:
14 June 2019 – An Azerbaijani court ruled that journalist Polad Aslanov would remain in detention, sentencing him to four months in pretrial detention pending an investigation.
24 June 2019 – An appeals court ruled against releasing Polad Aslanov despite the journalist’s plea of innocence, independent Meydan TV reported.
Links:
http://aws-www.meydan.tv/az/article/ba-redaktorun-apelyasiya-ikayti-tmin-edilmyib/?ref=search
https://www.azadliq.org/a/polad-aslanov-4-ayl%C4%B1q-h%C9%99bs-edilib/29999956.html
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/m%C9%99hk%C9%99m%C9%99-ba%C5%9F-redaktor-bar%C9%99d%C9%99-d%C3%B6rd-ay-h%C9%99bs-q%C9%99timkan-t%C9%99dbiri-se%C3%A7ib-/4960387.html
Categories: Arrest/detention/interrogation; Criminal charges/fines/sentences; Subpoena/court order/lawsuits; Legal measures
Sources of violation: Police/state security; Government/state agency/public officials/political party; Court/judicial
Journalist remains on travel ban
7 June 2019 – Journalist Shohvalad Chobanoglu was denied his request to remove a travel ban, online news site Abzas reported.
Chobanoglu has been under a travel ban, which prevents him from leaving the country, since 2014. Chobanoglu appealed to the prosecutors office to consider removing his ban following a series of travel ban removals affecting other journalists,
However, prosecutors said, they will add the journalist’s request to the criminal case against him and respond at a later time. Chobanoglu considers this as a “no”, given he has submitted similar requests before, and was given the same response.
According to an independent non-governmental organisation Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center there are currently 30 representatives of Azerbaijani civil society, including journalists, facing a travel ban.
Links: https://smdtaz.org/en/siyasi-motivli-s%C9%99yah%C9%99t-qadagalari/
https://www.abzas.org/2019/06/prokurorluq-jurnalistin-olk%C9%99d%C9%99n-cixisina-qadagani-goturm%C9%99kd%C9%99n-imtina-edib/
https://www.azadliq.info/227669.html
Categories: Criminal charges/fines/sentences; Intimidation; Subpoena/court order/lawsuits;
Sources of violation: Police/state security; Government/state agency/public official; 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:1562236207074-35151fb7-00e8-6″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
21 Jun 19 | Azerbaijan, Europe and Central Asia, Monitoring and Advocating Coverage, News and features
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Leyla Mustafayeva (Photo: RFERL)
Leyla Mustafayeva is an Azerbaijani journalist and the wife of investigative journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, who was kidnapped in Georgia in May 2017 and later imprisoned in Azerbaijan.
Mustafayeva left Georgia along with her daughter Nuray after being followed by the same individual who was following her husband before his abduction. Today she lives in Germany and continues to campaign for the release of her husband.
When Mukhtarli fled to Georgia, Azerbaijani authorities were shutting down NGO’s and independent media outlets. In Georgia, he continued to openly criticise the Azerbaijani regime as a journalist and arranged protests to demand the release of journalists and political prisoners.
Mukhtarli, who had investigated the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic, was stalked by employees and later kidnapped. The company has been repeatedly linked to corrupt activity and human rights violations. The oil and gas sector in Azerbaijan is also well known for its lack of transparency and is considered the greatest source of corruption in the country.
Mustafayeva has put her career on hold. Today, she dedicates herself to learning German, integrating into German society and campaigning for her husband’s release.
Index on Censorship: What were the official reasons for your husband being abducted from Georgia and extradition to Azerbaijan, and how does this compare with why he was actually taken
Leyla Mustafayev: In January 2015 we were in Qazax, Azerbaijan. If my memory doesn’t betray me, it was midday. Afgan decided to flee to Georgia after he received information from one of the sources in the Chief-Prosecutor’s Office in Azerbaijan. As soon as he received the leaked information from the General Prosecutor’s office he fled to Georgia.
In 2014 he had been interrogated once about the criminal case which had been launched against Radio Liberty. In December 2014 journalist Khadija Ismayilova was arrested. It was the continuation of a crackdown by the Azerbaijani authorities’ against NGOs and the independent media.
After settling in Georgia he started investigating Azerbaijani state money that they had been invested in Georgia. It was obvious that the president’s spouse Mehriban Aliyeva, and his daughters Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva, had invested enough into banking, tourism and the cargo sector in Tbilisi and Batumi. Along with their Azerbaijani business partners, the family-owned big hotels in Tbilisi and Batumi.
Afgan was also very critical of the government in his posts on social media. At that time Afgan was not the only one who had fled to Georgia. Before his arrival to Tbilisi, some activists and journalists had already moved there. He fled to Georgia so that he could avoid being arrested, continue his professional activity, and fight for the release of his colleagues who had been imprisoned.
Along with his friends, he organised protests in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tbilisi and demanded the release of political prisoners, which included journalists.
The investigation was not the only reason he was kidnapped. Imagine one journalist organising a protest in front of the Azerbaijani embassy and demanding for the release of political prisoners while the president’s family is spending millions in European countries trying to build up their image. All of his activities were negatively impacting the reputation of the Azerbaijani government.
Index: What was Afgan working on when he was abducted?
Mustafayev: Afgan was working on similar topics that he had worked on before. He was visiting different places with regard to his investigation and was being stalked by plainly clothed people intensively. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has a security section in Georgia. Afgan told me that the Security Committee of Azerbaijan had replaced their employees in the Georgian branch of SOCAR and that they had been told to stalk activists and journalists in Tbilisi, collect information about the places that they visited, and identify the people who they were meeting. One of the topics that Afgan was investigating was related to SOCAR.
Index: How have you been campaigning for the release of your husband, and what have been the major developments in that campaign?
Mustafayev: After Afgan was kidnapped I decided to stay in Georgia and campaign against both governments. Georgia is responsible for protecting the safety of all the people living within its borders. The Georgian Dream government not only failed to protect our safety but also collaborated with its authoritarian neighbour, the Azerbaijani government, so that it could silence the voice of one critical journalist.
Afgan’s kidnapping was the so-called “victory” of the authoritarian coalition in Georgia.
When I was living in Georgia, Afgan had not yet been convicted. I was hoping that our campaign with the civil society members and journalists would force the authorities to drop the charges against him in Azerbaijan, and reveal to the Georgian people and the world that the Georgian government was responsible for Afgan’s kidnapping.
Until that time, Georgia had been known as an island of democracy in South Caucasus. After Afgan was kidnapped in Tbilisi, it was obvious that it was no longer a place of democracy. When it comes to political interests, the Georgian government ignores fundamental freedoms and human rights.
Index: How has Azerbaijan responded to this campaign?
Mustafayev: Azerbaijani government officials kept repeating that Afgan had been detained while crossing the border illegally. Prior to and after his arrest, pro-Azerbaijani government websites were publishing articles that accused him of collaborating with an “anti-Azerbaijani network”. Elman Nasirov, one of the Azerbaijani MPs, said in an interview with Radio Liberty that Afgan had been taken to Azerbaijan as the result of a successful security services operation between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
During one of the court trials in Azerbaijan, Afgan had recognised the Azerbaijani border official that the Georgian kidnappers had delivered him to. Although Afgan was blindfolded after being kidnapped, he could remember the voice of senior border official Azar Shirinov, who had given a testimony in the court.
It has been two years since his kidnapping, and the criminal case that was launched in regard to his abduction in Georgia is still open. Within the last two years, Georgian law enforcement has erased all the facts that confirm his kidnapping from Georgia.
Georgia’s responsible government organisations failed to investigate the case. In this situation, the Georgian parliament needed to set up a special investigation group. However, they refused to do so. I believe that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, and the Georgian parliament are still protecting the senior Georgian government officials who were complicit in the adduction. I believe that this is the case because Afgan told me that his Georgian kidnappers were reporting to someone “on the top” about the steps that they had taken during the operation. CCTV in the Ministry of Internal Affairs was also not operating along the streets where the kidnappers abducted him. Law enforcement in both countries has mobilised their administrative power to bury this case. The police and security forces have entered private enterprises, obtained CCTV footage, and deleted all of the evidence. There was only one piece of footage that showed Afgan taking the mini-bus that takes a route to our home. The lawyer noticed one person in the footage who was following Afgan. Our lawyer asked the prosecutor’s office to clarify the identity of that person. The CD containing the video has not been opened since then.
Index: How did your husband’s abduction affect your own sense of security in Georgia and why did you leave the country?
Mustafayev: It was very stressful to live under surveillance. My daughter was asking each evening why her dad did not come home. She had heard about the kidnapping on the news and knew that something bad had happened to her father. She cried each morning when she got up, which she never did before. Once I realised that the person who had stalked Afgan the day before he was kidnapped was stalking me as well, I decided to leave Georgia. I recognised the person from footage on the Rustavi 2 TV channel. Although I had delivered photos and videos of the person who was stalking me and my daughter to the police and the Chief Prosecutor’s office, they did not investigate my complaints and failed to protect our safety. That is why I decided to leave Georgia.
Index: How has all of this affected your own work as a journalist?
Mustafayev: I started a new life in Germany. I have been integrating myself into society by learning the language and continuing my campaign for him. However, it has been extremely demanding. As a result, I have not been able to pursue my professional career like I had hoped after I graduated from journalism school in Tbilisi.
Index: How do you view the state of media freedom in Azerbaijan?
Mustafayev: The main critical and independent websites have been blocked in Azerbaijan. They are the websites of OCCRP, Radio Liberty, exile-based Meydan TV, Turan TV, the Azerbaijan hour TV programme, and the website of opposition newspaper Azadliq. There are around 70 political prisoners in Azerbaijan and five of them are journalists. There is no independent television in the country. The government has taken control of the mass media by blocking the main media platforms that criticised it. About 15 journalists have been involved in the criminal case that was launched against Meydan TV in 2015. In 2017 the president gifted 255 apartments to journalists to mark National Press Day on 22 July 22. During the last 14 years, three journalists have been murdered in Azerbaijan. Those who killed Elmar Huseynov and Rafig Tagi remain free. Azerbaijan has gone down three ranks and is now ranked 166th among 180 countries for media freedom, and is famous for the imprisonment and habitual intimidation of journalists.
Index: What are your hopes for Azerbaijan?
Mustafayev: The Azerbaijani government poses the biggest threat to media freedom in the country. It has already been 26 years since the ruling New Azerbaijan Party took power. They have established deep roots throughout these 26 years by ordering the authorities to “strengthen” their censorship of the media. The Chief Prosecutor’s Office lifted the travel ban that it imposed on journalists in 2015. Sevinj Vagifqizi, the journalist collaborating with the exile-based Meydan TV, was one of them. Shortly after the travel ban was lifted, she was sued for filming election fraud. The presidential elections were held in April 2018. The timing of the case soon after the travel ban was lifted led us to question the true motivation behind the lawsuit. All of this leaves very little space for hope. It shows that Azerbaijani authorities have no intention of pursuing fundamental reforms, and will always silence criticism from the media by any means they deem necessary. [/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:1562165207475-534f6dfb-857d-2″ taxonomies=”7145″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
31 May 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.
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Journalist taken to court
27 May 2019 – Journalist Sevinc Vagifqizi was taken to court, in connection with her reportage about a school teacher who was involved in carousel voting on the day of presidential election in Azerbaijan, repored, Azadliq Radio, Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe.
Elmira Alandarova who is also the deputy principal, claims Vagifgizi’s coverage of her as someone who has manipulated the voting day and the results was a stain for her honor and dignity. Alandarova claims she was not involved in carousel voting, even though Vagifgizi’s reporting clearly shows how Alandarova directed the carousel voting at the polling station.
Vagifgizi refutes the accusations and says they are baseless considering the same woman tried taking Vagifgizi to court right after the election but the case was closed because there was lack of evidence.
The trial will continue on June 10.
Alandarova demands that Vagifgizi apologise for damaging Alandarova’s reputation; tht the media platforms where the footage was published removes all of the footage, apologize and that Vagifgizi pays Alandarova 2500AZN.
Links: https://www.azadliq.org/a/jurnalist-se%C3%A7ki-reportaj%C4%B1na-g%C3%B6r%C9%99-m%C9%99hk%C9%99m%C9%99y%C9%99-verilib/29965093.html
https://aqreqator.az/az/siyaset/88514
Categories: criminal charges/fines/sentence; intimidation; subpoena/court order/lawsuit;
Sources of violation: known private individual;
Journalist sentenced to a 10-day administrative detention
27 May 2019 – Journalist Sakhavat Mammad, with Yenicag.az online newspaper, was sentenced to ten days in administrative detention, reported independent Meydan TV.
Although at first, it was reported that the reason for the journalist’s detention was a blog post he wrote in response to the news of a recent resignation of Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan the court later said, the real cause for his detention was not paying aliments.
Yenicag claims Mammad was subject to a series of attacks over his story on the retired chief of staff and that he had no intention of running away or not paying the aliments. The court in Agdam however, ruled instead to sentence the journalist to the administrative detention.
Mammad himself, writing in his story about the resignation claimed that he was attacked by a troll army when he covered the resignation story.
Azerbaijani NGO Human Rights Club also confirmed that the detention is likely connected to the story about the general.
Links: https://modern.az/az/news/201952
https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/jurnalist-10-sutkaliq-inzibati-hebs-edilib/?ref=list-news
https://www.humanrightsclub.net/x%C9%99b%C9%99rl%C9%99r/2019/1668/
http://minval.info/jurnalist-s-xav-t-m-mm-d-h-bs-edilib-foto/120641
Categories: legal measures, arrest/detention/interrogation; criminal charges/fines/sentences; court order;
Source of violation: police/state security; court/judicial;
Police detain reporter Ayrac Ahmadova
23 May 2019 – Journalist Ayrac Ahmadova was taken to the police reported independent Meydan TV.
According to the journalist herself, she was not even filming when the police came and took her to the station. “I was waiting for the employees of Footbal+ newspaper when police came and took me to the station and held me there against the law for three hours”, explained Ahmadova.
Ahmadova also said, two other reporters Fargana Novruzova and Turkan Bashiri were stopped forcefuly by the police. One of the women reporters, shared how police ripped her jacket.
Ahmadova also said the police warned her, that from now on, no reporter could film without a permission outside the premises of the Presidential Allaparatus.
Links:
https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/polis-prezident-administrasiyasi-qarsisinda-cekilis-isteyine-gore-de-saxlayacaq/?ref=list-news
http://arqument.az/az/3-jurnalist-prezident-administrasiyasnn-qarssnda-saxlanlb/
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation;
Source of violation: police/state security
Police intervene in a protest organized by newspaper staff
23 May 2019 – A group of reporters from Futbol+ sports newspaper were prevented by the police from protesting outside the Presidential Administration reported independent Meydan TV.
The protest was a result of the state fund for mass media not allocating any money for the newspaper Futbol+
The state fund has justified its decision by telling the newspaper management they were not social or political but the newspaper management claims that are plenty of newspapers the fund supports that are not social or political in their nature.
Futbol+ was established in 1997. Its founder is Vugar Mammadov and editor in chief Mahir Rustamli. The newspaper employs around 30 journalists.
The editor in chief Mahir Rustamli promised to set up a meeting with the presidential apparatus to find further solution.
The group held a similar protest in April.
Links:
https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/polis-futbol-qezetinin-emekdaslarinin-aksiyasina-mane-olub/?ref=list-news
http://hurriyyet.org/xeber/quotfutbolquot_qezetinin_emekdaslari_aksiya_kecirdi_-_prezident_mracit_olundu_-_fotolar
Categories: blocked access; censorship; other
Source of violation: police/state security
Journalist’s accreditation cancelled ahead of the Europa League final
20 May 2019 – Turan News Agency reporter Aziz Karimov lost his accreditation to cover the upcoming UEFA Europa League Final to be held in Baku on May 28, reported Meydan TV.
Although at first Karimov received accreditation from UEFA, three days later, UEFA informed the journalist his accreditation was cancelled.
When Karimov inquired with the UEFA for the reasons of this decision, the photojournalist was told that it was the local authorities who refused the accreditation to Karimov not UEFA.
Previously, the news agency Karimov represents – TURAN was also not allowed to cover the Formula 1 race that took place just a month ago in Baku.
Updates:
25 May 2019 – UEFA confirmed the accreditation of Karimov and explained the refusal, as a mistake.
Links:
https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/turan-emekdasinin-akkreditasiya-problemi-hell-olundu/?ref=list-news
https://d9mc3ts4czbpr.cloudfront.net/az/article/turan-agentliyinin-emekdasina-akkreditasiya-qadagasi-qoyulub/?ref=list-news
http://faktxeber.com/turan-agentliyinin-mkdana-akkreditasiya-qadaas-qoyulub_h532066.html
http://toplum.tv/az/fotomuxbir-eziz-kerimova-akkreditasiya-qadaasi-qoyulub/
Categories: intimidation; blocked access;
Source of violation: police/state security; government/state agency/public official/political party;
Azerbaijani journalist based in Russia subject to deportation
18 May 2019 – Fuad Abbasov, an Azerbaijani journalist based in Russia, is being deported from Moscow reported Berlin based Meydan TV.
It has been reported that several Azerbaijani individuals based in Moscow have complained to Russian authorities asking them to deport Abbasov.
Abbasov was based in Moscow.
The local court in Moscow ruled in favor and currently the deportation papers are being processed.
Updates
30 May 2019 – Abbasov will return to Azerbaijan on 31 May according to independent Meydan TV.
Although there is an appeal made to the local court on illegal deportation, unless the administrative detention where Abbasov has been placed receives the court decision by tomorrow Abbasov will be deported on 31 May.
22 May 2019 – Group of activists and family members of Abbasov have gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Baku protesting the arret of Abbasov and calling for his immediate release.
20 May 2019 – The embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia met with Abbasov reported Meydan TV.
The embassy also noted that it is following the case closely.
Links: http://qafqazinfo.az/news/detail/fuad-abbasov-moskvada-saxlanilib-deportasiya-edilirfoto-252650
https://www.meydan.tv/ru/article/azerbaycanli-jurnalist-moskvada-saxlanilib/
https://report.az/en/incident/azerbaijani-journalist-fuad-abbasov-detained-in-moscow-and-deported-fr/
https://youtu.be/DkW5QSIGOyY
https://d9mc3ts4czbpr.cloudfront.net/az/article/azerbaycan-sefirliyinin-emekdaslari-moskvada-saxlanilan-fuad-abbasovla-gorusubler/?ref=list-news
https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/fuad-abbasovun-rusiyadan-deportasiya-edileceyi-tarix-melum-olub/?ref=list-news
Categories: arrest/detention; legal measures; court order/lawsuits; criminal charges/ fines/ sentence;
Source of violation: police/state security; government; court/judicial;
Journalist detained while covering a protest
18 May 2019 – Freelance reporter Nurlan Libre was detained while covering a protest in Sovetski neighborhood in the capital of Baku, reported Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe.
Libre, was covering the residents’ protest who were unsatisfied with the compensation offered to them by the authorities for their homes that were being demolished.
Libre was released later during the day with the rest of the residents who were also detained by the local police.
In an interview with Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe, Libre said, police told him they arrested him because the rest of the reporters covering the protest were women.
Links: https://www.azadliq.org/a/sovetski-etiraz-sokuntu-naraziliq/29949635.html
http://www.turan.az/ext/news/2019/5/free/Social/en/81082.htm
Categories: Arrest/detention
Source of violation: Police/state security
Journalist receives a warning from the prosecutor’s office
15 May 2019 – Journalist Anar Mammadov received a warning from the prosecutor office reported independent Meydan TV.
Mammadov explains while at the prosecutor office, he was told to stop writing stories about SOCAR- the state oil company.
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.meydan.tv/az/article/bas-redaktor-prokurorluq-socar-la-bagli-yazilarima-gore-xeberdarliq-etdi/?ref=list-news
https://mappingmediafreedom.ushahidi.io/posts/22461
https://www.azadliq.org/a/daha-bir-jurnalist%C9%99-5-il-6-ayl%C4%B1q-c%C9%99za/29828069.html
Categories: Arrest/detention/interrogation; intimidation; offline harassment;
Source of violation: Police/state security
Meydan TV targeted with DDoS attacks
9 May 2019 – After publishing an investigative story about SOCAR – the State Oil Company, the website of Meydan TV, that is already being blocked for access in Azerbaijan since 2017 received multiple DDoS attacks, reported independent Contact.az.
This is not the first time, the website is DDoSed after running a critical story or an investigative piece.
Links:
http://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/5/free/Social/en/80843.htm
https://www.azadliq.org/a/meydan-tv-hucum/29930842.html
Categories: Blocked access; DDoS; Censorship;
Source of violation: unknown
Lawyer unable to access jailed journalist
8 May 2019 – Lawyer Elchin Sadigov was unable to meet with jailed journalist Afgan Mukhtarli during his prison visit, reported Azerbaijan service for Radio Free Europe. Speaking to the Azerbaijani service of the radio, Sadigov said although at first he was informed it will take a few minutes to process his visit. Bur rather than receiving the permission he was told no visits were allowed after 16.30 in the afternoon.
Sadigov said, lawyers were able to meet with their defendants as long as they came before 17.00.
The penitentiary service where journalist Mukhtarli is being held, so far, has not provided any explanation.
Links:
https://www.azadliq.org/a/v%C9%99kili-%C9%99fqan-muxtarl%C4%B1-il%C9%99-g%C3%B6r%C3%BC%C5%9F%C9%99-bilm%C9%99yib/29929172.html
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/v%D3%99kil-%D3%99fqan-muxtarl%C4%B1-il%D3%99-g%C3%B6r%C3%BC%C5%9F%C9%99-burax%C4%B1lmad%C4%B1%C4%9F%C4%B1n%C4%B1-deyir/4909110.html
http://gozetci.az/en/reports/223/
Categories: Arrest/detention/interrogation; Other Serious Issues
Source of violation: police/state security;
Journalist arrested on trumped-up drug charges
1 May 2019 – Journalist Shafag Agajan was detained during a police raid in the capital of Azerbaijan, reported independent, Berlin-based Meydan TV.
Agajan, is the head of Bakupress, National News Agency.
According to police reports, Agajan was detained during a police raid against illegal drug sales across from a local hospital located in Baku.
Agajan refutes all the claims, and said it is a measure taken against her, by the authorities, after her news agency, published a story about Ali Hasanov, the presidential aide and his direct influence in the sale of drugs at local pharmacies.
Agajan, was sentenced to three months in pre-trial detention on May 3. Following the court decision, Agajan said she is going on a hunger strike in protest against the court ruling.
Links:
http://bakupress.az/az/newss/10574/eli-hesenov-apteklerde-psixotrop-dermanlarin-satisina-havadarliq-edir-video
https://sputnik.az/incidents/20190502/420261392/jurnalist-hebs-edildi.html
https://www.meydan.tv/en/article/sefeq-agacan-etiraz-olaraq-bu-gunden-acliq-aksiyasina-baslayiram/
https://d9mc3ts4czbpr.cloudfront.net/az/article/narkotik-satmaqda-subheli-bilinen-bas-redaktor-saxlanilib/?ref=homepage-news
Categories: Arrest/Detention/Interrogation; Criminal Charges/Fines/Sentences; Legal Measures
Source of violation: Police/state security; 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:1575028637345-41c57c95-1f54-6″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
30 Apr 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.
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Journalist sentenced to 12 years in jail
30 April 2019 – Editor of qafqaznews.az Mahmud Tagiyev was sentenced to 12 years reported Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe.
Tagiyev was found guilty on charges of extortion.
The journalist refutes the accusation and says he is being framed. In his statement, Taghiyev said this was a punishment for his attempt to receive full payment of the property he has sold to an employee of the Prosecutor Office but was unable to receive the payment since the sale of the property. The criminal investigation against the journalist was opened February 8, 2019.
Links:
https://open.az/hadise/azerbaycanda-xeber-agentliyinin-rehberine-cinayet-isi-acildi.html
http://www.tezadlar.az/index.php?newsid=44654
https://ona.az/az/hadise/mahmud-tagiyeve-12-il-hebs-cezasi-verilib-9168
https://www.azadliq.org/a/sayt-r%C9%99hb%C9%99ri-12-il-azadl%C4%B1qdan-m%C9%99hrum-edilib/29912713.html
Categories: Arrest/Detention/Interrogation; Criminal Charges/Fines/Sentences; Legal Measures
Source of violation: Court/Judicial; Government/State Agency/Public official(s)/Political party
Journalist called in for questioning at the Organized Crime Unit
24 April 2019 – Editor of an online news site az24saat.org Vugar Gurdganli was invited for questioning at the Chief Organized Crime Unit in Baku, reported independent online new platform Meydan TV.
Gurdqanli wrote on his Facebook that he received a phone call from a man who introduced himself as an employee of the Crime Unit and asked that Gurdqanli came in for questioning. The journalist said he told the man on the phone that he needs to see an official letter of complaint first before he comes in. Gurdqanli also mentioned that he asked what this questioning was about, but was only told that there has been a complaint against him.
Gurdqanli suspects this call was linked to previous threats he has been receiving after re-publishing a story that was first released by Meydan TV about Ramil Usubov, the Minister of the Interior and his business empire.
Gurdqanli’s website az24saat.org has been blocked for access since 2018.
Links: https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/sayt-redaktoru-meydan-tv-nin-yazisina-gore-bandotdele-cagirildigini-dusunur/?ref=search
https://meydan.tv/az/article/polis-coreyi-ve-ya-usubovlarin-biznesi/?ref=homepage-feature-articles
https://www.abzas.net/2019/04/redaktor-bu-yazi-d%C9%99rc-edildikd%C9%99n-sonra-bir-nec%C9%99-d%C9%99f%C9%99-h%C9%99d%C9%99-qorxu-almisam/
https://www.humanrightsclub.net/x%C9%99b%C9%99rl%C9%99r/2019/jurnalist-bandotdel-%C9%99-cagirilib/
Categories: Arrest/Detention/Interrogation; Intimidation; Blocked Access
Source of violation: Police/State security
News Agency refused accreditation to cover Formula 1 race
24 April 2019 – Turan News Agency, the only remaining independent news agency was refused accreditation to cover the Formula 1 race that will take place between 26 – 28 April, reported independent Meydan TV.
The accreditation was denied by the Baku City Circuit, the main company in charge of organising the race.
Turan News Agency applied for accreditation already in January but the request was denied on no grounds said Turan News Agency in a statement.
The agency considered this decision intentional and continuation of state policy on restricting freedom of the speech. The agency received accreditation in 2017-2018.
Links:
https://meydan.tv/az/article/turan-informasiya-agentliyi-formula-1-yarismasinin-teskilatcilarini-diskriminasiyada-ittiham-edib/?ref=homepage-news
http://www.turan.az/ext/news/2019/4/free/Want%20to%20Say/az/80433.htm
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/turan-i%CC%87nformasiya-agentliyi-formula-1-t%C9%99r%C9%99find%C9%99n-diskriminasiyan%C4%B1-pisl%C9%99yir/4887629.html
Categories: Blocked access
Source of violation: Corporation/company
Audio recording between two journalists leaked
9 April 2019 – US based Azerbaijani journalist Sevinc Osmangizi confirmed that a phone conversation with another journalist based in Germany was leaked by a pro-government news platform in Azerbaijan, reported Azadliq Radio, Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe.
Osmangizi believes the conversation with the said journalist was recorded outside of their knowledge and that it was done by the special services in Azerbaijan.
Neither the authorities nor the news outlet that aired the conversation have commented on the developments.
The audio recording that was leaked took place several weeks ago before it was leaked and the two discussed possible project together.
Update:
26 April 2019 – After releasing the exchange between Osmangizi and another journalist, the authorities have now threatened Osmangizi to release intimate footage of the journalist, reported multiple sources in Azerbaijan and internationally.
Osmangizi is threatened by another journalist, formerly with Azerbaijan News Agency, Mirshahin Agayev who now heads a pro-government media platform Real TV.
In a video Osmangizi shared on her own YouTube channel, Osmangizi says, nothing is going to prevent her from doing her work, even such tricks as this one.
Osmangizi previously received death threats against her and her family.
Links: https://www.azadliq.org/a/sevinc-osmanq%C4%B1z%C4%B1-t%C9%99hl%C3%BCk%C9%99sizliyi-il%C9%99-ba%C4%9Fl%C4%B1-m%C3%BCraci%C9%99t-edib/29872316.html
https://www.facebook.com/kriminalpress/posts/1005561049641079
https://chai-khana.org/en/azerbaijans-ans-death-of-a-tv-station
https://www.facebook.com/AmnestyUKFormerSovietUnion/photos/rpp.411814202351103/1068344913364692/?type=3&theater
https://cpj.org/2016/10/azerbaijani-tv-journalists-receive-death-threats.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQCxqfgA-Cg&t=35s
Categories: Intimidation, Online Defamation/Discredit/Harassment/Verbal Abuse, Offline Defamation/Discredit/Harassment/Verbal Abuse
Source of violation: Police/State security, Government/State Agency/Public official(s)/Political party, Known private individual(s), Another media
Independent news website blocked
9 April 2019 – arqument.az has been rendered inaccessible and eventually blocked without any official notification to the editors, reported independent online news site Meydan TV.
The website’s editor Shamshad Aga speaking to the media, said, the website was subject to DDoS attacks before it was made completely inaccessible.
While it was possible to access the website through a VPN on April 8, as of April 9, this was no longer the case.
Argument.az was also blocked in 2018.
Links: https://mappingmediafreedom.ushahidi.io/posts/22551
https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/arqumentaz-saytina-giris-bloklanib/?ref=search
Categories: Blocked Access, DDoS/Hacking/Doxing
Source of violation: Police/State security; Government/State Agency/Public official(s)/Political party; Unknown
Blogger not allowed to leave the country
9 April 2019 – Former political prisoner, Mehman Huseynov was prevented from leaving the country reported Azadliq Radio, Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe.
Huseynov was released from jail in March 2019 after having served the two year jail term.
Huseynov has been unable to leave the country for eight years.
The blogger had planned to travel to Berlin and Strasbourg to attend a conference organized by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. He was also scheduled to participate at a conference on journalists’ safety in Vienna, organized by the OSCE representative on freedom of the media.
Update: 13 April 2019 – Huseynov was finally allowed to leave Azerbaijan
Background:
Popular video blogger Mehman Huseynov was sentenced to two years in prison on defamation charges by the Surakhani district court. He was arrested in the courtroom, Azadiiq reported.
Nasimi district police chief Musa Musayev brought a lawsuit against Huseynov, claiming the blogger lied when he said that he had been tortured when he was detained in January 2017. Huseynov is the first person to be arrested for slander in Azerbaijan.
The blogger is the administrator of popular Facebook page Sancaq which has over 300,000 subscribers. He shares videos claiming to expose high level corruption among Azerbaijani officials.
Huseynov was detained on 9 January in central Baku, by a group of plain-clothed police officers. He was held incommunicado overnight allegedly for violating administrative rules. The next day, court fined him 200AZN (€100) on charges of disobeying the police (Article 535.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Speaking to journalists following his brief detention, Huseynov said police placed a sack over his head and used force against him during the detention. On 11 January, his lawyer Elchin Sadigov published pictures showing traces of torture on Huseynov’s body and blood stains on his clothes.
UPDATE: 12 April 2017 – Blogger Mehman Huseynov’s appeal was rejected by the Baku court of appeal, independent Azerbaijan service for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reported.
Huseynov’s lawyer Elchin Sadigov said they will file an appeal to the supreme court, and described the appeal court’s decision as illegal and failing to observe legal norms.
UPDATE: 25 June 2018 – The Azerbaijan Supreme Court upheld the two-year prison sentence handed down to Mehman Huseynov in March 2017, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijan service reported.
Huseynov was not present at the hearing. His lawyer said the case would now be taken up with the European Court of Human Rights.
UPDATE: 24 August 2018 – A regional court in Garadag ruled against the motion for conditional release of the blogger Mehman Huseynov, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijan Service reported.
Speaking to Azadliq Radio, Huseynov’s lawyer Shahla Humbatova said the court reached its decision on the basis of a report submitted by the administration of the penitentiary where Huseynov is being held. The report concluded that Huseynov had failed to reform during his time in jail.
UPDATE: 26 December 2018 – New charges are being brought against Mehman Huseynov on the grounds that he “resisted a representative of the authorities with the use of violence dangerous to his health and life” – an accusation that Huseynov denies. If found guilty, he could face a further seven years in jail, the website of the international free expression website Ifex reported.
The new charges were brought just two months before he was due to be released from jail.
On the same day as the fresh charges were brought, Mehman announced that he was going on hunger strike. He refused to drink water until 30 December, but after this severe health complications forced him to start drinking water.
Huseynov suffers from a severe case of varicose vein rupture, and a prison doctor has recommended immediate medical intervention to stop the internal bleeding.
UPDATE: 7 January 2019 – Mehman Huseynov broke off his hunger strike and started to drink liquid dairy products after suffering from stomach pains, the pan-Caucasus website JAM News reported.
UPDATE: 15 January 2019 – Around a dozen people in Azerbaijan have begun hunger strikes as an act of solidarity with imprisoned blogger Mehman Huseynov, JAM News reported.
Five political prisoners have begun hunger strikes in prison, JAM said, adding that award-winning Azerbaijani reporter Khadija Ismaylova joined the hunger strike on 15 January to show her solidarity with political prisoners in the country.
Seven of those who began hunger strikes since the beginning of the year are members of the opposition party Musavat, including the deputy chairman of the party, Tofik Yaqublu. Two of the Musavat members have since broken off their hunger strikes.
UPDATE: 22 January 2019 – The Azerbaijani authorities announced that they are dropping the latest criminal charges brought against imprisoned blogger Mehman Huseynov, who has already spent more than two years in jail, Trend news agency reported.
The country’s Prosecutor General issued a statement saying that “The criminal case against Mehman Huseynov has been cancelled.”
The statement said that the decision to drop the charges had been taken after human rights defenders and Huseynov himself appealed directly to President Ilham Aliyev “to ensure the objectivity of the investigation.”
It noted that, based on the president’s recommendation, “The criminal case on Mehman Huseynov was terminated due to the fact that he is a young man, was not subject to disciplinary liability during his term of punishment, took the path of reform, and his old father is in need of care.”
Trend said that Aliyev, “for whom the principles of justice and humanism are always a priority, took the appeals into account and gave recommendations to the General Prosecutor’s Office to conduct an objective investigation of the criminal case, to take all necessary measures provided by law to make a fair and humane decision.”
The agency added that “the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan warns those who, for the sake of personal interests and political goals, are trying to create an artificial fuss around Mehman Huseynov, as well as the media spreading false information about him, that any illegal actions aimed at violating stability and tranquillity in the country will resolutely be stopped within the framework of the law.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty noted that the latest move comes after large-scale demonstrations in Baku in support of Huseynov and the adoption of a European Parliament resolution calling for his immediate release.
Links: https://mappingmediafreedom.ushahidi.io/posts/20892
https://www.azadliq.org/a/mehman-h%C3%BCseynov-m%C9%99ni-girov-kimi-saxlamaq-ist%C9%99yirl%C9%99r-/29870043.html
https://www.meydan.tv/en/article/blogger-mehman-huseynovs-travel-ban-lifted/?ref=article-related-artciles
https://cpj.org/2019/04/azerbaijani-blogger-mehman-huseynov-blocked-from-l.php
Categories: Intimidation, Blocked Access
Sources of violation: Police/State security, Government/State Agency/Public official(s)/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:1575027709088-0979c989-ce0b-2″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
