Azerbaijani journalists insist on putting monument to Elmar Guseinov

On June 30, the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) has repeatedly addressed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev with a request to fix up a monument in Baku, in the Metbuat Avenue, to the editor-in-chief of the "Monitor" magazine Elmar Guseinov who was assassinated on March 2, 2005.

"Back in October 2007 our Institute launched a campaign to collect signatures to commemorate Elmar Guseinov and fix up a monument to him in the city of Baku in the Metbuat (Press) Avenue. On November 15, the petition signed by 555 citizens was sent to the Executive Power of Baku," Emin Guseinov, Director of the IRFS and a namesake of the late Elmar Guseinov, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

However, the answer signed by Akif Abdullaev, acting chief of Central Administration for Architecture and City Planning of Baku Mayoralty, ran that the decision to fix up a monument should be made "at the top state level".

Then, as the IRFS leader has informed, an appeal was sent to President Ilham Aliev. The answer to this appeal came from the Executive Power of the Yasamal District. "First we were told that the appeal was under study. Then, we were recommended to address the Ministry of Culture and Tourism," the head of the IRFS continued.

However, as he said, the appeal to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was answered in the same way as by the city mayoralty.

As he said, similar appeals to commemorate the memory have been already sent to the leadership of Azerbaijan by international journalistic and human rights organizations.

Besides, the IFEX (International Association in Defence of the Freedom of Expression) has allocated financial help at a rate of 6,000 US dollars for holding a contest for the best sketch of the symbol personifying the freedom of speech. This symbol will be installed on the monument to Elmar Guseinov.