Index on Censorship » Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan: newspapers fined for damaging businessman’s honour

Marta Cooper — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:39 +0000

Azerbaijani newspapers Yeni Musavat and Azadliq were fined 2000 manats (1,634 GBP) this week, they had been accused of damaging businessman Anar Mammadovov’s honour and business image. Mammadov, the son of Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov, appealed to the court citing articles two articles — one headlined “Kamaladdin Heydarov’s Bear Eaten” and the other “Sheikh drives Anar Mammadov out of Dubai” — published in July and September 2010 respectively.

Azerbaijani activist freed

Natasha Schmidt — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:01:03 +0000

Azerbaijani Facebook activist Jabbar Savalan was released on 26 December after almost 11 months in prison. The teenager was released by presidential pardon along with 91 other political prisoners. Savalan was arrested in early February after posting messages on Facebook calling for people to take part in anti-government protests. As with former prisoner Eynulla Fatullayev, he was sentenced on fabricated drug charges not directly related to his activism — a tactic increasingly used by authorities in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani human rights lawyer detained at Istanbul airport

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:04:36 +0000

An Azerbaijani human rights activist was detained for more than 24 hours at Istanbul airport on Tuesday evening. Intigam Aliyev was returning to Baku from the Civil Society Parallel Event, organized by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vilnius, when he was accused of insulting an airport officer, and the return of his passport was refused. Aliyev reported being beaten by police whilst he was detained. He arrived in Baku in the early hours of this morning.

Azerbaijan: Supreme Court upholds Bakhtiyar Hajiyev judgment

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:28:08 +0000

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld the sentence of a young activist and blogger on 6 December. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was sentenced to two years‘ imprisonment after using Facebook to generate support for the 11 March “Great People’s Day” anti-government protests. The 29-year-old Harvard graduate was charged with evading military service in May, but lost his appeal against the conviction. Natasha Schmidt, Assistant Editor of Index on Censorship magazine condemned the decision: “The Azerbaijani authorities have demonstrated once again that they are entirely hostile to freedom of expression and the right to protest. Like activist Jabber Savalan, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev remains in jail on a charge unrelated to his activism, a tactic increasingly employed to silence dissenting voices.” A report by the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan, of which Index on Censorship is a member, outlines the dire state of press freedom in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani journalist stabbed

Natasha Schmidt — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:35:50 +0000

Sanat newspaper editor Rafiq Tagi was stabbed on 19 November in Baku. He was said to be in a stable condition after several hours of surgery. In 2007, Tagi was charged with inciting national, racial and religious enmity after he published an article about Islam’s impact on Azerbaijani development. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and later pardoned by President Aliev. At the time of the uproar over the article, Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani placed a fatwa on Tagi and he received multiple death threats.

Azerbaijan: Independent editor imprisoned

Alice Purkiss — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:00:07 +0000

The editor-in-chief of an independent daily paper in Azerbaijan has been imprisoned. Avaz Zeynally, from newspaper Khural, was arrested in Baku on Friday on charges of bribery and extortion. The charges follow a complaint filed by Gyuler Akhmedova, a member of parliament who alleged that Zeynally had tried to extort 10,000 manat (7,935 GBP) from her in August. Zeynally denies all charges, saying Akhmedova had offered him money in exchange for his paper’s loyalty to authorities. On Saturday, a court determined that Zeynally should be detained for three months. If convicted, he could face 12 years in prison.

Azerbaijan at 20: Little progress on free speech

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:48:41 +0000

As Azerbaijan celebrates 20 years of independence, Index on Censorship tracks its citizens’ struggle for free expression

on Dipity.

Michael Harris, Head of Advocacy at Index on Censorship will be speaking at the event Azerbaijan – 20 Years of Independence and the Struggle for Democracy on 20 October. Click here for more details

Dipity seem to be experiencing some technical problems. You can also view this timeline here

Azerbaijan: Journalist’s relatives beaten, home demolished

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:28:27 +0000

Relatives of an Azerbaijani journalist were severely beaten while they attempted to prevent his house from being demolished by heavy machinery. Idrak Abbasov’s house was targeted for demolition amid accusations that it had been built illegally. The attack on 9 September was carried out by security personnel from the state-owned Binagadi Oil Company, whose activities were being investigated by the reporter. Abbasov’s family were beaten with clubs during the attack, and three of his relatives were admitted to hospital. Video footage here.

Azerbaijan: Reporter abducted, forced to cross Iranian border

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:13:36 +0000

A journalist claims he was kidnapped and expelled from Azerbaijan. Yafez Hasanov, an Azerbaijani correspondent from Radio Azadliq, part of Radio Free Europe, was in Naxcivan investigating the death of airport technician Turaz Zeynalov, when he was abducted by three men. The suspects — who were driving a vehicle similar to those used by government security officials — told him that if he returned to Naxcivan, it would “cost him.” The men branded Zeynalov, who died after being summoned to the National Security Ministry, a “traitor.” Hasanov was taken to the Iranian border and told to return to Baku via Iran, where RFE is considered an illegal organisation.

Foreign activists attacked in Azerbaijan

Index on Censorship — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:46:22 +0000

American journalist Amanda Erickson and British activist Celia Davies Carys were followed home and beaten by four men on 15 June in Baku. The women are in Baku to train local journalists. Carys sustained a broken arm in the attack.