IMR demands to release Azerbaijani journalists and bloggers from jails

In late 2015 and in 2016, the situation with the freedom of self-expression in Azerbaijan has deteriorated, says the interim annual report of the Institute of Media Rights (IMR) released today.

Although in 2016, seven prominent journalists and bloggers were release, fully or conditionally, from their long-term prison terms, however, at least 12 other victims of the use of their right to freely express their viewpoints are still kept behind bars. Some of them are under pre-trial detention, others serve their long sentences, says the IMR's report.

The documents asserts that the current inmates are Ilkin Rustamzade (a blogger and an activist of the "Nida" movement), Abdul Abilov (a blogger), Seimur Khazi (a journalist and a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA)), Faradj Kerimov (an active user of the Facebook and an adviser to the head of the "Musavat" Party), Rashad Ramazanov (a blogger), Fuad Gakhramanly (Deputy Chairman of the PFPA and an active Facebook user), Araz Guliev (a journalist), Nidjat Aliev (a journalist), Tofig Gasanov (a satirical poet), Arshad Ibragimov (a journalist), Fikret Faramazoglu (a journalist) and Faig Amirov (the financial director of the "Azadlyg" newspaper).

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