Azeri public activists state freedom of speech worsening

The World Press Freedom Day - May 3 - was traditionally marked by representatives of Azerbaijani democratic public by paying visits to tombs of perished journalists Elmar Guseinov and Nadzhaf Nadzafov.

At the improvised rally near Elmar Guseinov' tomb speakers said that the situation with the freedom of press in Azerbaijan is worse day after day, while the majority of press outlets are controlled by the authorities.

The MP Husein Panakh noted that "Azerbaijan should be grateful to its independent journalists who constantly work "in the mine field." "It is through their efforts that in Azerbaijan one can still say something," he said.

Emin Guseinov, Director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), stated with regret that in spite of five years that had passed after the crime, Elmar Guseinov's murder is unsolved. In his opinion, this fact "gives grounds to believe that the customers of that murder are among the highest country's officials."

He also believes that the authorities' unwillingness to follow the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on immediate release of journalist Einullah Fatullaev from his prison is an evidence of their real attitude to the freedom of press." "It's also another proof of the political character of the case against the young bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade, convicted under a forged charge," said the IRFS Director.