State-supporting politicians disagree with conclusion of "Article 19" on freedom of speech in Azerbaijan

In the last five years, the state of things with democratic freedom has been steadily worsening in Azerbaijan. This conclusion is made in the report of the international human rights organization "Article 19", which was presented on September 10 in Baku, in the Azerbaijani House of Human Rights.

"The government does not move towards democracy, on the opposite - it goes to authoritarianism, showing intolerance to criticism. As a result of suppression of the freedom of expression of opinion, many activists of the civil society and political parties of Azerbaijan are feeling here like dissidents during the epoch of the Soviet system," said Agnes Callamard, Executive Director of "Article 19" at the report launch event in Baku.

Ms Callamard has criticized "criminal prosecution in Azerbaijan of journalists and bloggers," "arrests of activists on political grounds," "putting obstacles for activity of NGOs and oppositional parties." She called the authorities of Azerbaijan to respect the freedom of speech and self-expression, cancel criminal punishments for defamation and release journalist Fatullaev and bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade.

The mass media people, activists of civil society and international experts, who were present at the presentation, supported the conclusions fixed in the report.

Meanwhile, Fazail Agamaly, leader of the government-supporting party "Ana Veten" (Fatherland) and a deputy of the parliament, expressed his categorical disagreement.

"Already from the very first page, where it is written that there is no freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, it is clear that the report is prejudiced and directed against Azerbaijan," said Mr Agamaly and demonstratively left the hall.