11 Sep 19 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project tracks press freedom violations in five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Learn more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”2 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Court upholds Khadija Ismayilova’s probation period
Journalist Khadija Ismayilova was the subject of both violations this month.
12 August 2019 – Investigative reporter, Khadija Ismayilova’s request for an early end to her probation period was rejected, according to the Turan news agency.
The Binagadi district court refused to satisfy journalist’s request on the grounds the journalist was not fully recovered.
Ismayilova was released on probation in 2016 after having served a year and a half of her seven and a half year sentence. Her probationary sentence forbids Ismayilova from leaving the country or working.
Links: https://ifex.org/azerbaijan-khadija-ismayilovas-request-for-early-end-to-her-probation-rejected/
https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/8/free/Social/en/83009.htm
https://www.azadliq.org/a/x%C9%99dic%C9%99-ismay%C4%B1l-m%C9%99hkumlu%C4%9Fun-l%C9%99%C4%9Fvini-ist%C9%99yir/30083659.html
Categories: criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuit;
Sources of violation: court/judicial
Court upholds charges of tax evasion against Khadija Ismayilova
7 August 2019 – The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld charges of tax evasion against investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova, the independent Turan News Agency reported.
The journalist has been ordered to pay 45,145 Azerbaijani manats to tax authorities, who claim Ismayilova intentionally avoided paying taxes during her time as Bureau chief of Azadliq Radio.
Ismayilova said she considers the decision unlawful and that now she has exhausted all domestic legal remedies, she will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Links: https://www.azadliq.org/a/x%C9%99dic%C9%99-ismay%C4%B1l%C4%B1n-m%C9%99hk%C9%99m%C9%99si/30098186.html
https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/8/free/Social/en/82962.htm
Categories: criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuit;
Sources of violation: court/judicial[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1575028108260-b66cab02-1f6d-6″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
06 Aug 19 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project tracks press freedom violations in five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Learn more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”5 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Editor detained during border crossing
31 July 2019 – Editor of an online website hefteaz.info Agil Mahmudov was detained while crossing the Azerbaijan-Georgia border independent Turan news agency reported.
Mahmudov was informed that a travel ban has been imposed against the journalist by the Ministry of the Interior.
The reason for the imposed travel ban is reportedly Mahmudov’s administrative arrest in 2018.
Mahmudov said the ban was absolutely illegal as he completed the full sentence which was twenty days. The journalist plans to appeal the travel ban.
Links: https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/7/free/Social/en/82742.htm
https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/47978/
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation;
Sources of violation: government/state agency/public official/political party;
Editor now allowed to leave the country
Update:
3 August 2019 – Travel ban on the journalist Parviz Hashimli was reportedly lifted according to independent Turan news agency.
Hashimli, said, he was informed via a phone call from the Baku city prosecutor office.
30 July 2019 – Former political prisoner, journalist and editor of an online news site gununsesi.org Parviz Hashimli, was prevented from leaving the country reported independent Turan news agency.
Hashimli was stopped while crossing Azerbaijan-Russia border and informed his travel ban imposed last year was still valid.
Hashimli has appealed to remove the travel ban in May.
Links: https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/7/free/Social/en/82698.htm
https://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/8/free/Social/en/82812.htm
Categories: criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuit
Sources of violation: government/state agency/public official/political party
Police disperse journalists during a protest
Journalist Seymur Hezi was arrested in August 2014. He was subsequently convicted of aggravated hooliganism and sentenced to five years in prison.
22 July 2019 – 22 July marked National Press day in Azerbaijan. A group of journalists gathered outside the press council offices in the capital Baku reported independent Azadliq Radio, Azerbaijan service for Radio Free Europe.
The group first gathered outside the ministry of internal affairs and then moved to the headquarters of the press council office calling to end persecution of journalists in the country and immediate release of journalists Afgan Mukhtarli and Seymur Hezi.
Police dispersed the group and briefly detained one reporter from online TV channel Kanal 13.
The group did manage to meet with the spokeperson for the press council and asked him why there the council it not pressurising authorities to release journalists. The spokeperson, said, the council has not received any official complaint from the journalists about their difficult working conditions or imprisoned journalists.
Links: https://oc-media.org/journalist-detained-in-baku-on-national-press-day/
https://www.azadliq.org/a/reportyorlar-etiraz-etdil%C9%99r-/30068663.html
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation;
Source of violation: police/state security
Website DDoSed (virtual road)
18 July 2019 – Exiled news media platform azerbaycansaati.tv was knocked offline. The site became unreachable and its domain name was no longer available, according to Qurium, that supports a number of DDoSed websites in Azerbaijan.
Following detailed analysis, Qurium Media Foundation was able to confirm that the website was indeed DDoSed.
Links: https://www.qurium.org/alerts/azerbaijan/ddos-the-inconvenient-business-visitor/
Categories: ddos/hacking/doxing;
Source of violation: unknown
Journalist summoned for questioning
3 July 2019 – Anar Mammadov, editor for criminal.az online news site, was called in for questioning by police, Azadliq Radio reported.
In an interview with the outlet, Mammadov said that the police wanted to speak to him about two articles the website he is managing published recently.
The first article is about a robbery and the inability of the local police officers to solve the crime. The second article is about the alleged thief, who was arrested and released the following day.
Mammadov told Azadliq Radio that during the questioning police officers were polite but said that Mammadov was biased and was unjust to law enforcement.
Azadliq Radio is the Azerbaijan service for Radio Free Europe.
Background:
18 March 2019 – Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Anar Mammadov, editor of an independent news website criminalaz.com to five years and 6 months of suspended sentence reported Azadliq Radio, Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe.
Mammadov, is currently on a two year probation period. He cannot leave the country and must report to the relevant state body.
Mammadov considers himself innocent.
Criminal.az is an independent website covering predominantly crime-related stories. The website was blocked by the authorities in 2017, along with a number of other critical and independent news websites. It later began operating under the criminalaz.com domain, which was recently blocked.
Mammadov was questioned after publishing reports on an attempt on the life of the mayor of Ganja, Elmar Valiyev, on 3 July 2018.
Links: https://www.azadliq.org/a/anar-m%C9%99mm%C9%99dova-polisd%C9%99-n%C9%99-deyilib/30035526.html
https://gozetci.az/en/report/?item=1053
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation; criminal charges/fines/sentences; subpoena/court order/lawsuits; legal measures;
Source of violation: police/state security; government/state agency/public officials/political party; court/judicial[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1567415379736-e118aa53-6b1b-9″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
04 Jul 19 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project tracks press freedom violations in five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Learn more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”2 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Journalist detained for high treason
12 June 2019 – Journalist Polad Aslanov, chief editor of independent news websites Xeberman and Press-az was arrested on charges of high treason according to his lawyer Elchin Sadigov, Azerbaijan Service for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reported.
The journalist is facing a life sentence if found guilty.
Update:
14 June 2019 – An Azerbaijani court ruled that journalist Polad Aslanov would remain in detention, sentencing him to four months in pretrial detention pending an investigation.
24 June 2019 – An appeals court ruled against releasing Polad Aslanov despite the journalist’s plea of innocence, independent Meydan TV reported.
Links:
http://aws-www.meydan.tv/az/article/ba-redaktorun-apelyasiya-ikayti-tmin-edilmyib/?ref=search
https://www.azadliq.org/a/polad-aslanov-4-ayl%C4%B1q-h%C9%99bs-edilib/29999956.html
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/m%C9%99hk%C9%99m%C9%99-ba%C5%9F-redaktor-bar%C9%99d%C9%99-d%C3%B6rd-ay-h%C9%99bs-q%C9%99timkan-t%C9%99dbiri-se%C3%A7ib-/4960387.html
Categories: Arrest/detention/interrogation; Criminal charges/fines/sentences; Subpoena/court order/lawsuits; Legal measures
Sources of violation: Police/state security; Government/state agency/public officials/political party; Court/judicial
Journalist remains on travel ban
7 June 2019 – Journalist Shohvalad Chobanoglu was denied his request to remove a travel ban, online news site Abzas reported.
Chobanoglu has been under a travel ban, which prevents him from leaving the country, since 2014. Chobanoglu appealed to the prosecutors office to consider removing his ban following a series of travel ban removals affecting other journalists,
However, prosecutors said, they will add the journalist’s request to the criminal case against him and respond at a later time. Chobanoglu considers this as a “no”, given he has submitted similar requests before, and was given the same response.
According to an independent non-governmental organisation Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center there are currently 30 representatives of Azerbaijani civil society, including journalists, facing a travel ban.
Links: https://smdtaz.org/en/siyasi-motivli-s%C9%99yah%C9%99t-qadagalari/
https://www.abzas.org/2019/06/prokurorluq-jurnalistin-olk%C9%99d%C9%99n-cixisina-qadagani-goturm%C9%99kd%C9%99n-imtina-edib/
https://www.azadliq.info/227669.html
Categories: Criminal charges/fines/sentences; Intimidation; Subpoena/court order/lawsuits;
Sources of violation: Police/state security; Government/state agency/public official; Court/judicial;[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1562236207074-35151fb7-00e8-6″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
20 Jun 19 | Azerbaijan, Monitoring and Advocating Coverage, News and features, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]This article is part of an ongoing series exploring the issues raised by Index on Censorship’s Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]In 2018, 17 alerts were submitted to the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists relating to impunity for murders of journalists. Of these, 15 occurred in the countries covered by Index on Censorship’s ongoing Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project: Turkey (2), Azerbaijan (2), Ukraine (5), and Russia (6).
The Monitoring and Advocating for Media Freedom project documents, analyses, and publicises threats, limitations and violations related to media freedom and safety of journalists in Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, (as well as Belarus, which is not in the Council of Europe), in order to identify possible opportunities for advancing media freedom in these countries.
As part of the project, Index on Censorship submits and co-sponsors alerts on violations, including physical attacks on journalists and threats to media freedom, to the Council of Europe’s platform. When a member state is mentioned in an alert, the state is asked to log any remedial action they have taken in the platform. The platform’s objective is to put pressure on Council of Europe states to act in accordance with international human rights law and media standards.
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Russia look likely to be among Europe’s most flagrant offenders of media freedom again in 2019: despite accounting for just 8.5% of the Council of Europe member states, they account for 36% of the alerts filed on the platform so far this year.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”98654″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Turkey remains the world’s largest imprisoner of journalists. Arrested journalists continue to be detained on charges of membership of or creating propaganda for a terrorist organisation. Three of the fourteen staff of the newspaper Özgürlükçü Demokrasi who were arrested in 2018 and charged with “membership in a terrorist organisation and terrorist propaganda” remain in detention in Istanbul. The next hearing in their trial is scheduled for 28 June 2019.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”107324″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Despite President Aliyev’s pardoning of more than 400 people earlier this year, journalists among them, severe obstacles remain to press freedom in Azerbaijan. Travel bans remain one of the most common instruments with which to silence critical voices in the country, despite being in violation of Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own”), which Azerbaijan ratified in 1992.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”98655″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Last month investigative reporter Vadym Komarov was beaten into a coma in the Ukrainian city of Cherkasy. He was found with severe head injuries and was taken to hospital where he underwent brain surgery. He frequently wrote about corruption, administrative incompetence, prison conditions, and illegal construction. According to the most recent reports, police have not yet identified the attacker, but are treating the incident as premeditated attempted murder.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”98652″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Along with Ukraine, Russia is among the Council of Europe states where journalists endure the highest rate of physical violence. Earlier this month, unknown assailants attacked the well-known blogger Vadim Kharchenko after he went to meet a potential source. Kharchenko is known for reporting on and investigating alleged police abuse of power. As noted in its recently published report, Index on Censorship recorded 116 violations of press freedom in Russia between 1 February 2019 and 30 April 2019. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
