Journalists in Nakhichevan report physical pressure on the part of the policemen

In the evening of July, 15, a group of independent journalists underwent an assault on the part of police personnel and people wearing civilian attire in the settlement of Jalill, Sharur district of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR). This was reported by regional correspondent of the Institute of Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) Khiakimeldostu Mehtiev. In connection with this IRFS asked President Ilham Aliev to step in the situation with freedom of mass media in Nakhichevan.

“It is not for the first time that I am experiencing pressure on the part of local authorities. This time the reason was that last week I accompanied my colleague Miklael Ludvig from the newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" who was compelled to break off his business trip and leave NAR under the pressure of the authorities”, Khiakimeldostu Mehtiev said to the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Political observer of the German newspaper Miklael Ludvig interrupted his trip on July, 7. He was preparing a material about the situation of NAR which is separated from the rest part of the country. A representative of the regional Department of the Ministry of Interior Affairs was attached to the journalist and, according to Ludvig, in every possible way was trying to limit his contacts with local residents, all the time reported the journalist’s travels to someone on the phone which forced the German journalist to break off his trip.

According to Mehtiev, on July, 15, Deputy Head of Sharur district Aladdin Mamedov accompanied by employees of the district power supply, policemen and people wearing civilian attire came to his home in the settlement of Jalil. They accused Mehtiev of illegal use of power in the neighbouring small car wash in spite of all his documents being in order.

“Aladdin Mamedov did nor make secret of the fact that the real reason for cutting me off power was my professional activities. He said to me: “It looks like you are on the move here, now shooting all kinds of videos, then bringing foreign journalists. What did you bring the German journalist to Sharur market for?”

He ignored my explanations that is was my professional journalists’ activities”, Mehtiev said.

Mehtiev’s colleagues and other regional correspondents from IRFS who came to see him together with Ilgar Nasibov, local journalist from “Turan” press agency, underwent an assault on the part of the police and people with civilian attire on for video filming dismantlement of an electric pole.

Only after the information of the incident became wide spread in Azerbaijani mass media and members of foreign organizations got interested in the events the policemen and civilians of athletic build left the scene.

In connection with the assault the journalists are going to submit an official statement to Public prosecutor’s office of NAR.

It turned out impossible to receive any comments from law enforcement bodies of NAR.