Thomas Hammarberg disappointed that murder of journalist Guseinov is still unsolved

The situation with the freedom of mass media, operation of the law-enforcement system of Azerbaijan and situation with NGOs were the main topics of debates in the course of the visit to the country on March 1-5 of Thomas Hammarberg, High Commissioner of the Council of Europe on Human Rights.

"Our visit coincided with commemoration days of journalist Elmar Guseinov in Azerbaijan. In spite of the fact that 5 years have elapsed after the murder, the crime remains unopened," Mr Hammarberg said today at the press conference on the outcomes of his visit to Baku.

According to his story, the Council of Europe gives great attention to the inquiry into Elmar Guseinov's murder. "This crime is in the same row with the other murders of journalists for their professional work: Anna Politkovskaya in Russia, Georgiy Gongadze in Ukraine, Grant Dink in Turkey," Mr Hammarberg continued.

He reported that he had visited in custody journalists Einullah Fatullaev and Ganimat Zakhidov and young bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade.

Mr Hammarberg answered in the affirmative when asked whether he raised the issue of releasing these persons during his meetings with Azerbaijani top officials. "I spoke about it with ministers; they told me that the cases are investigated or litigated and "they can't and wouldn't like to interfere," Thomas Hammarberg quoted the reaction of Azerbaijani leaders.