In Azerbaijan, three journalists face criminal charges in connection with riots in Guba

In connection with the riots in the city of Guba (Azerbaijan), Zaur Guliev, General Director of the regional TV Channel "Khayal", Vugar Gonagov, Executive Director, and Zaur Mustafaev, Advertising Editor, are accused of organizing actions aimed at disturbing public order or participation in that actions.

On March 13-14, four local journalists were detained, and nothing was reported on their fate. According to unofficial information, the journalists were accused of preparing and placing on the Youtube the video with a controversial speech delivered by Rauf Gabibov, ex-Chief of the executive authorities, which had provoked unrests in Guba. On March 20, the Nasimi District Court of Baku arrested Zaur Guliev, Vugar Gonagov, and Zaur Mustafaev for two months. One journalist was released after 72 hours of detention.

According to the lawyer Guseinov, at the trial, a representative of the investigators stated that the speech of the Chief Executive was edited. The prosecutor wanted to know who instructed to do that. In his turn, Zaur Guliev, the head of the TV Channel, stated that he did not know that, since he did not carry out editing of the material, and the story was prepared for the air by his colleagues.

The law enforcement agencies continue to refrain from commenting on the course of the investigation into the Guba events.

The Media Rights Institute (MRI) has condemned the arrest of the journalists. The MRI emphasizes that persecution and detention of the journalists for their action contradicts the international principle of right for freedom of expression. The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) has also condemned the arrests of the staff members of the TV Channel "Khayal" and demanded to stop persecuting the journalists for freedom of expression.