12:07, 9 April 2008

Miklos Harasti calls President of Azerbaijan to release arrested journalists

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev shall release the arrested journalists. This statement was made by Miklos Harasti, OSCE spokesman for the freedom of speech, at the press conference on the outcomes of his visit to Azerbaijan.

Unfortunately, the journalists who criticize the authorities or write about corruption are arrested on the cases which have nothing to do with journalism, Mr Harasti said.

The OSCE official has stated that such are the arrests of Einullah Fatullaev, accused of terrorism, Mirza Sakit, accused of drug dealing, and Ganimat Zakhid, accused of hooliganism. He has also treated as abnormal the situation with Agyl Khalil, correspondent of the "Azadlyg" newspaper who was attacked on March 13 and afterwards accused of homosexuality.

He said that in the course of his visit he had plenty of meetings both with representatives of journalistic associations and with the authorities of Azerbaijan. He has also noted that his meetings with the authorities were mainly accompanied by understanding on their part.

Author: Rafael Gasanov, CK correspondent