In Azerbaijan, journalist Abbasov complains of pressure and threats

Idrak Abbasov, an employee of the newspaper "Ayna" (Mirror) and the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) whose relatives were attacked on September 9 at their home, said at a press conference that he continued experiencing pressure and threats.

Let us remind you that in the morning on September 9 unidentified persons in black uniform broke into the house of Idrak Abbasov's parents in the village of Sulu Tepe and started beating them and other family members; the attackers also used an excavator to destroy part of the fence and one of the residential buildings in the yard.

The mother and a brother of the journalist were taken to the intensive care unit of the City Clinical Centre with craniocerebral traumas; his father fell into coma from a sharp aggravation of his diabetes and was hospitalized. Two other brothers - Vagif and Roman Abbasov - were brought to the police in response to their demand to render emergency medical aid to their mother at hospital. The 20th division of the Nasimi District Police department has initiated an inquiry with the aim of criminal prosecution of the brothers.

Late at night on September 20, two young men of athletic body-build blocked the way to journalist Abbasov, when he returned home from his work.

"The guys got out of the Niva car with the state licence plates 90 AH 171. First, they showered me with foul language, and then asked me to see reason," Mr Abbasov said today at the sitting of the Board of Editors in the office of the IRFS.

According to his story, about a week ago unidentified persons also threatened his brother Roman Abbasov. "They wanted the same thing - that I come to senses and stop complaining about the demolition of our house," said Idrak Abbasov.

The Board of Editors has decided to continue keeping the issue in the focus of media attention and support the journalist in defending his rights.

At the present time, the attacked journalist's father and one of the brothers were discharged from the hospital; their health condition is satisfactory. However, Abbasov's mother, who received a head injury, is still in hospital; and her condition does not improve.

The press service of Ministry of Internal Affairs has refrained from comments, citing a lack of information.

Earlier, the above 29th police division has started an investigation in relation to the journalist. Abbasov was accused threatening a driver of some car, while he was driving his own one.

Although, according to his story, it was all vice versa; in the morning on September 10 he himself was subjected to persecutions and threats.

"On September 17, I was at the 29th police division, where they tried to persuade me to sign a protocol stating that I 'had inadvertently' broken the traffic rules and created a threat to some other driver. I categorically refused to do it," said Abbasov.

Still, there is no progress in the investigation into the attack on Abbasovs' house. The staff of the 40th division of the Binagadi Police Department examined the crime scene, but have not yet interrogated the victims.

The local and international human rights organizations believe that the pressure on Abbasov has to do with his professional activities.

The office of the civil society "Kura" has treated the destruction of the house as "an act of vandalism."

The international organization in defence of the press "Reporters Without Borders" has also strongly condemned the violence against members of journalist Abbasov's family.

Meanwhile, law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan refuse to comment the fact of violence against Abbasov's family members and accusations of them of violating the law. The press service of the local MIA has stated that "the respective police structures are conducting their investigation; and until they are underway, comments are premature."

Idrak Abbasov himself believes that the attack on his parents' house was committed by the security staff of the Company "Binagadi Oil".