18:00, 4 December 2009

CPJ calls Azerbaijani authorities to release sick journalist

Azerbaijan, Baku. Bibi Heybat mosque. Photo by http://en.wikipedia.org

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called the authorities to release Mushvig Guseinov, imprisoned journalist of the newspaper "Bizim Yol", arrested in 2007 on charges of receiving a bribe, because of his illness.

The CPJ made this statement after reports in the press about Guseinov's aggravated health condition; he suffers from heavy tuberculosis and is serving his 5-year term.

"We call the Azerbaijani authorities to demonstrate humanity and reduce Mushvig Guseinov's prison term, so that he could immediately get access to the necessary medical aid," said Nina Ognianova, coordinator of the Euro-Asian CPJ programme.

"Our concern of Guseinov's health is also caused by the fact that in August this year journalist Novruzali Mamedov died in Azerbaijani prison because of lack of proper medical treatment," she has added.