Azerbaijani journalists mark World Press Freedom Day at Elmar Guseinov's grave

Today, representatives of the democratic journalistic community of Azerbaijan marked the World Press Freedom Day by visiting the grave of Elmar Guseinov, editor-in-chief of the "Monitor" magazine, who was killed in March 2005 at the doorstep of his house.

Mekhman Aliev: Coverage of a free press in Azerbaijan narrows

In his speech at the impromptu rally at the grave of Elmar Guseinov, Mekhman Aliev, director of the "Turan" Information Agency, said that "the situation in the sphere of the freedom of expression continues worsening, which is confirmed by all international organizations." "This year, attack on and kidnapping of journalists have resumed, which was not observed for several years," said Aliev and recalled the kidnapping and beating of two employees of the "Azadlyg" newspaper Seimur Khaziev and Ramin Deko in late February-early March.

"The free press zone is also shrinking; however, there's still hope that the freedom of speech in Azerbaijan will not be completely stifled," said Aliev.

Ganimat Zakhidov, editor-in-chief of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom), stressed that "despite such harsh conditions and pressure from the authorities, the free press continues its fight for the minds of people."

Khalig Bakhadyr, an observer of the "Azadlyg", said that journalists "should follow those who found and liquidated Osama bin Laden." "We must also find and liquidate the customer of Elmar Guseinov's murder," the journalist said figuratively.

Leila Alieva, a political analyst and the head of the Centre for National and International Studies, noted that the struggle for the freedom of speech and the freedom self-expression is not just journalists' mission but also the task of the society as a whole; therefore, the entire society, political parties and ordinary citizens should stand for these freedoms.

Sabir Guseinov, father of the slain journalist, said that the head of the state had promised to solve the crime during 40 days; however, six years have passed, but the murder was never solved. "Under the current power it'll hardly ever be solved," he said.

Kees Bean, press secretary of the US Embassy, congratulated Azerbaijani journalists with the World Press Freedom Day and wished them to solve the existing problems and reach successes.

Reporters Without Borders put Ilham Aliev on "Predators of the Press" list

On May 3, the international organization in defence of the freedom of the press - Reporters Without Borders (RWB) - released its list of "Predators of the Press" - of public, political and military figures from different countries, most active in suppressing the freedom of the press. This year's list includes 38 names, the head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev among them, who is a member of this "club" for 6 years already.

The statement of the RWB on this occasion says that "Hu Jing Tao and Ilham Aliev did not hide their fears that Arab revolutions would spread to their countries," and in this regard the Azerbaijani authorities took several new steps to restrict the freedom and suppress the activity of the youth in social networks and, above all, on the Facebook.

Within these steps, several youth activists were arrested several journalists kidnapped and intimidated, while protesters were arrested and beaten. Similar measures were taken against the journalists, who were covering these protest rallies; the Internet was partially blocked, says the statement of the RWB.

Amashev: international organizations exaggerate situation in Azerbaijan

On May 3, on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, the Press Council of Azerbaijan held a conference on the problems of journalism. Amashev, head of the Press Council, said that after Azerbaijan cancelled censorship in 1998, the legislation on the media was updated, the Ministry on the Press was disbanded, and the media self-regulatory bodies were created - the Press Council and the National Television and Radio Board. Amashev said that 4000 registered media in Azerbaijan evidence the existence of the freedom of press in the country. He also spoke about the state care of the media and allocation of grants to media from the state budget.

At the same time Amashev believes that there are problems in the media; he indicated the weakness of the economic basis, restricted advertisement market and the presence of criminal liability for defamation. However, as he said, the Press Council and the OSCE Office in Baku are preparing a bill on defamation, which cancels criminal liability for libel and slander.

Along with that Mr Amashev argues that some international organizations exaggerate the situation in Azerbaijan with the freedom of the press. He treated the placement by the "Freedom House" of Azerbaijan to the 171st position out of 196 countries of the world as strange.

"Of course, there are certain problems. However, steps are being taken to improve the economic situation of the press; the legislation is improved. The countries, where in reality the situation is much worse than in our country, are in the list much ahead of Azerbaijan," said Amashev.

He noted that after a careful study of the reports by international organizations on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, the Press Council of Azerbaijan would declare its attitude to them.

Arif Aliev: Azerbaijani authorities imitate support of the press

In his turn, Arif Aliev, head of the journalists' association "Eni Nasil" (New Generation), said that the Azerbaijani authorities are just imitating their activities in support of the press. "They have established funds in support of the press; they are building an apartment block for journalists in an attempt 'to drag' as many of our colleagues as possible to their side," said Aliev. "The total crisis of the media initiated by the government in 1998 has passed into its chronic state. There's only one way to drive the press out of it - provide the whole country with the general economic freedom. In Azerbaijan, all the TV channels are under tough control, while printed media are exposed to economic sanctions if they write what they want."

As to the Internet, it is much more difficult to regulate information there, believes Aliev; however, active bloggers and other users are summoned to the police, arrested or pressed by other methods.

"The technological changes that have occurred in the past 20 years have weakened the levers of control over creative people. If before 1998 a censor was able to cope alone with all 'ideological difficulties', now censorship is quite diverse - total intimidation, slander, blackmail, blackening, arrests, telephone threats, kidnapping of family members and other relatives, and many other things of this sort," said Aliev.

According to his story, as long as the authoritarian domination continues, the tense situation will survive. "Thus, a two-day circulation of any leading Turkish newspaper equals the annual circulation of all the printed media of Southern Caucasus - this is symptomatic," said the head of the journalists' organization "Eni Nasil".