Institute of Media Rights states problems with freedom of press in Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani Institute of Media Rights (IMR) has promulgated a report on situation with mass media of the country in November. The document, now at the disposal of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, runs that in the reporting period five facts of pressure on journalists were registered.

"None of the facts is under objective and fair investigation," runs the IMR's report.

Thus, the document runs that employees of the Binagadin District Police Department of the city of Baku applied violence to Azer Israfilov, correspondent of the ANS TV Company. Judicial supervisors of the Baku Appeal Court put physical pressure on the employees of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety who were monitoring the trials.

Relatives of the head of the executive power of the Tertersk District threatened by phone the employees of the "Eni Musavat" newspaper. An attempt was made to attack the apartment of Idrak Abbasov, employee of the "Aina" newspaper. The brakes in the car belonging to Uzeir Dzhafarov, deputy editor-in-chief of the "Gyundelik Zaman" newspaper, were put out of operation with the aim to put his life under threat.

Also, the document draws attention to problems with media distribution. In particular, certain papers were banned for sale in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. There, and in other regions, dissemination of oppositional newspapers "Azadlyg" and "Eni Musavat" was hampered. In the cities of Gandzha, Shemkir and Geigel the "Khurriet" newspaper was banned.

In Nakhichevan, access to the website of the Azerbaijani service of Radio Liberty was blocked.