Ahead of a key poll, Azerbaijani journalists join jailed editor Eynulla Fatullayev on hunger strike. Vugar Gojayev reports
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Index on Censorship, together with ARTICLE 19, Media Diversity Institute, and Open Society Foundations, will explore the freedom of expression situation ahead of Azerbaijan‘s 7 November elections. This event will mark the launch of their joint report following their recent international freedom of expression mission to Azerbaijan.
Norwegian film-maker Erling Borgen’s documentary The Prisoner from Azerbaijan will be screened, followed by a discussion with Index on Censorship’s Natasha Schmidt, ARTICLE 19’s Rebecca Vincent, and Open Society Foundations’ Stewart Chisholm on the findings of the international mission in the context of Azerbaijan’s pre-elections environment.
When: 6:30pm, Thursday, 28 October 2010
Where: Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA
Ticket: Free. For more details, please contact Natasha Schmidt
[email protected] or 0207 324 2525
Observers including Index on Censorship’s Natasha Schmidt report on the country’s climate of fear
Ahead of Azerbaijan’s upcoming parliamentary elections, nine organisations, including Index on Censorship, are launching a new report titled Free Expression under Attack: Azerbaijan’s Deteriorating Media Environment. The report findings come out of a joint freedom of expression mission to the country in September 2010 and highlight the Azerbaijani government’s failure to comply with its international commitments to promote and protect freedom of expression. (more…)
Microsoft is extending its program of giving free software licences to non-profit organisations. The initiative was first applied to Russia, after it was discovered that authorities were using software piracy inquiries as a method of suppressing independent media outlets and advocacy groups. The program will now include 500,000 NGOs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Prior to the announcement NGOs could only obtain a free licence if they were aware of the program and followed the necessary procedure. According to Microsoft’s official blog announcement, the unilateral licence will last until 2012.