Azerbaijani politicians and journalists blame authorities for Rasim Aliyev's death (+video)

The death of the journalist Rasim Aliyev was a result of impunity for crimes against independent media in Azerbaijan, said his colleagues and oppositional politicians.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Aliyev was beaten up by a group of unidentified persons and was taken to City Clinical Centre No. 1 of Baku with fractures of several ribs in the evening on August 8. Tonight his state worsened; and the journalist died. A joint investigation team was set up by the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan.

Today, Rasim Aliyev was buried into the cemetery of the village Mekhiabad near Baku.

"Rasim was a courageous and talented journalist," Isa Gambar, the head of the Centre of National Strategic Thought, said speaking at the grave of the deceased Aliyev.

"It is clear that the blame for Rasim's death is on the regime, which gives rise to lawlessness and creates opportunities for committing crimes against journalists and against all freely-minded people. Murderers must answer before the law," said Gambar.

The murder of Aliyev should be considered in the overall context of the situation in the country with freedom of the press, said Mekhman Aliev, the director of the "Turan" News Agency.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.