IRFS calls EU to influence official Baku in context of human rights

On November 17 in Brussels, in the course of the Forum on Civil Society of the countries-participants of the programme initiated by the European Union (EU) under the name of "Eastern Partnership", Emin Guseinov, Director of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), delivered applications related to the freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan to the EU leaders.

In particular, Mr Guseinov served applications of the IRFS to Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner of the European Commission on Foreign Relations and European neighbourhood; Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and current EU Chair; and Mario Cepi, chair of the EU's social and economic committee.

Emin Guseinov said in his telephone conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that his applications present facts of pressure and criminal persecution of journalists and state "the general depressing situation with democracy" in Azerbaijan.

In particular, it is noted that the murder of the editor-in-chief of the magazine "Monitor" Elmar Guseinov committed in March 2005 is still unsolved. Besides, in August 2009, because of non-rendering the necessary help the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" Novruzali Mamedov died in the prison hospital.

Today, 7 journalists are still kept in Azerbaijani prisons.