28 Nov 2019 | Turkey, Turkey Incident Reports
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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_custom_heading text=”10 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]
Journalist Emre Orman detained over social media posts
24 October 2019 – Journalist Emre Orman, a reporter for Net news agency, was arrested in Istanbul and subsequently jailed pending trial on the charge of “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization” on account of his social media posts, Evrensel reported.
Orman was arrested on 23 October 2019 and sent to pre-trial detention after giving a statement to a prosecutor at Istanbul’s Anadolu Courthouse on 24 October.
Update:
1 November 2019 – According to Bianet, Orman was released from detention on 31 October.
Link(s):
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/389407/gozaltina-alinan-gazeteci-emre-orman-tutuklandi
https://gazetekarinca.com/2019/10/gazeteci-emre-orman-gozaltina-alindi/
http://bianet.org/bianet/ifade-ozgurlugu/214864-gazeteci-emre-orman-gozaltina-alindi
http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/215217-journalist-emre-orman-released
Categories: Arrest / Detention / Interrogation
Source of violation: Police / State security
Human rights lawyer and former Özgür Gündem editor-in-chief Eren Keskin’s house raided by police
22 October 2019 – Police raided the house of Eren Keskin, a prominent human rights defender and co-chairperson of the Human Rights Association (İHD), Mezopotamya news agency reported. Keskin has been prosecuted more than a hundred times for her symbolic support for the shuttered pro-Kurdish newspaper Özgür Gündem.
Keskin was not at home during the late-night raid. She testified to a prosecutor the following day, responding to accusations that she was “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization” in her social media posts. Keskin was released without judicial control measures.
Link(s):
http://mezopotamyaajansi23.com/search/content/view/74224?page=1&key=add81a9e773c7072a8320bb66c8f598e
http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/214837-house-of-eren-keskin-raided-by-police
https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gundem/2019/10/23/eren-keskinin-evine-polis-baskini/
Categories: Arrest / Detention / Interrogation
Source of violation: Police / State security
Journalist Özlem Oral briefly detained
On 10 October, President Erdoğan threatened that he would “open the gates” to the EU if they called his military operation an “invasion”.
20 October 2019 – Özlem Oral, a reporter for the left-wing Mücadele Birliği newspaper, was arrested during a police raid on her home on 19 October, Mezopotamya news agency reported. Oral was accused of “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization” and “inciting the public to hatred and animosity” for her social media posts about Turkey’s military operation in Syria. She was referred to the courthouse on 20 October and was subsequently released under a travel ban and has been ordered to report to the police station once a week.
Link(s):
http://mezopotamyaajansi23.com/tum-haberler/content/view/73855
https://t24.com.tr/haber/mucadele-birligi-gazetesi-muhabiri-ozlem-oral-gozaltina-alindi,844469
https://gazetekarinca.com/2019/10/gozaltina-alinan-gazeteci-ozlem-oral-serbest-birakildi/
Categories: Arrest / Detention / Interrogation
Source of violation: Police / State security
Nurcan Baysal’s house raided by police
19 October 2019 – Police carried out an early morning raid on columnist and T24 contributor Nurcan Baysal’s home in the southeastern city of Diyarbakır. Announcing the incident on Twitter, Baysal said that she was abroad when the raid took place, and therefore she was not arrested, but her two children were at home at the time of the raid. Baysal said that she believed the raid to have been in connection with her social media posts.
Link(s):
https://t24.com.tr/haber/nurcan-baysal-in-evine-polis-baskini,844441
http://bianet.org/bianet/ifade-ozgurlugu/214700-yazar-nurcan-baysal-in-evine-polis-baskini
https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/turkiye/2019/10/19/nurcan-baysalin-evine-polis-baskini/
Categories: Arrest / Detention / Interrogation
Source of violation: Police / State security
Journalist Tuğba Özer ordered to pay compensation over report
17 October 2019 – Tuğba Özer, an editor for Cumhuriyet daily, was ordered to pay 5,000 Turkish lira (around $875) in compensation over a news report, Bianet reported. The lawsuit was overseen by the 23rd Civil Court of First Instance of Istanbul.
The lawsuit was filed by the conservative and Islamist İHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation over Özer’s report about an elementary school teacher volunteering for İHH. Özer reported that the teacher had made his students pose for a picture as they held pieces of rope symbolizing the executioner’s rope and shared these pictures on social media.
The picture was posted at a time when President Erdoğan was reigniting the debate on bringing back the death penalty. The report says that the teacher shared the picture in which he is seen showing the rope on his social media account, saying “Either the state should take the lead or the raven will hover over the dead. President! We want justice.” The message came after a terrorist attack near the Inönü stadium in Istanbul’s central neighborhood of Beşiktaş killed 48 people, mostly police officers. In another social media message the teacher is seen forcing his students to make a military salute in the classroom. The teacher was suspended after the report caused a wide outcry.
Link(s):
https://bianet.org/bianet/ifade-ozgurlugu/214586-cocuklara-idam-ipini-yazan-gazeteciye-tazminat-cezasi
https://ilerihaber.org/icerik/gazeteci-tugba-ozere-yaptigi-haberden-dolayi-5-bin-tl-para-cezasi-verildi-104990.html
https://tele1.com.tr/cocuklara-idam-ipi-veren-degil-haberi-yazan-gazeteci-ceza-aldi-92814/
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Court / Judicial
BirGün editor Hakan Demir briefly detained over report on military operation
10 October 2019 – Hakan Demir, editor of the website of BirGün daily, was taken into custody during an early morning police raid on his Istanbul home, Bianet reported.
The grounds for Demir’s arrest was “the way in which a news item posted on the newspaper’s online edition was shared on Twitter.” The report referred to the military operation launched by the Turkish military in Syria on 9 October.
Demir was referred to the courthouse later in the day. The 13th Criminal Judgeship of Peace ruled to release the journalist under an international travel ban.
Link(s):
http://bianet.org/bianet/ifade-ozgurlugu/214244-birgun-gazetesi-internet-sorumlusu-hakan-demir-e-gozalti
https://www.birgun.net/haber/gozaltina-alinan-gazetemizin-internet-sorumlusu-hakan-demir-serbest-birakildi-271945
https://t24.com.tr/haber/bir-gun-gazetesi-internet-sorumlusu-hakan-demir-gozaltina-alindi,843105
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Police / State security
Diken’s news editor Fatih Gökhan Diler detained for “inciting hatred”
10 October 2019 – The managing editor of the news portal Diken, Fatih Gökhan Diler, was arrested at Diken’s offices in Istanbul, the website reported. Diler was eventually released under a travel ban by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace.
Diler was reportedly detained as part of an investigation on the allegation of “incitement of hatred and animosity” in a news story published by Diken that featured a statement by the speaker of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Turkish military launched an operation in Syria on 9 October, mostly targeting Kurdish forces controlling the border.
Link(s):
http://www.diken.com.tr/dikenin-sorumlu-yaziisleri-muduru-fatih-gokhan-diler-gozaltina-alindi/
https://www.gercekgundem.com/medya/125294/gozaltina-alinan-diken-editoru-fatih-gokhan-diler-serbest-birakildi
https://t24.com.tr/haber/diken-in-sorumlu-yaziisleri-muduru-fatih-gokhan-diler-gozaltina-alindi,843154
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Police / State security
JinNews reporter Beritan Canözer’s home raided by police over her social media posts
10 October 2019 – Reporter Beritan Canözer of the Diyarbakır-based pro-Kurdish and feminist news website JinNews had her home raided by police, Bianet reported. During the raid, police confiscated several magazines and newspapers they found in her apartment.
Police officers informed Canözer’s sibling, who was alone in the apartment when the police came, that the journalist was being summoned to the Diyarbakır Police Department to give her statement in connection with her social media posts.
Link(s):
https://www.yeniyasamgazetesi.com/gazeteci-beritan-canozerin-evi-basildi/
http://bianet.org/english/law/214312-journalist-beritan-canozer-s-house-raided-over-social-media-posts
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/388667/sosyal-medya-operasyonlari-gazeteci-beritan-canozerin-evine-baskin
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Police / State security
Broadcasts denigrating Syria operation to be ‘silenced’, TV watchdog said
10 October 2019 – Turkey’s TV watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), released a statement warning that any broadcast that endorsed terrorism and misled citizens with “false, incomplete or biased information” would be silenced, Andolu Agency reported. Turkey’s military launched an operation named Peace Spring on 9 October in northern Syria, targeting the Kurdish groups controlling the border.
While thanking broadcasters for “meeting society’s need of being informed with accurate information and contributing to national unity and togetherness,” RTÜK said it would not tolerate negative coverage of the operation. In the statement, RTÜK said that divisive and destructive broadcasts against Operation Peace Spring, published with the support of the [PKK] terrorist organization, are being swiftly identified and silenced with the support of other state institutions.
Link(s):
https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/baris-pinari-harekati/rtukten-baris-pinari-harekati-icin-hassasiyet-cagrisi/1609231
http://www.yeniyasamgazetesi1.com/rtukten-susturma-aciklamasi/
http://susma24.com/blog/2019/10/11/rtuk-harekat-aleyhindeki-yayinlar-hizlica-susturulmaktadir/
Categories: Censorship – Other Serious Issues
Source of violation: Government / State Agency / Public official(s) / Political party
Evrensel columnist faces investigation for column about First Lady
7 October 2019 – Evrensel writer Ender İmrek is facing an investigation over a column he wrote about First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the newspaper reported.
First Lady Emine Erdoğan
The column titled “The Hermes bag was shining brightly” criticized the First Lady’s ostentatious display of wealth.
In a Twitter post, Imrek said he was called to testify at the police station over his column.
Link(s):
http://susma24.com/blog/2019/10/08/gazeteci-ender-imreke-sorusturma/
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/388407/emine-erdoganin-hermes-cantasini-yazan-ender-imreke-sorusturma
https://www.dusun-think.net/haberler/gazeteci-ender-imreke-sorusturma/
Categories: Arrest / Detention / Interrogation
Source of violation: Police / State security[/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:1574865309697-99e30f8e-0394-5″ taxonomies=”35195″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
21 Oct 2019 | Turkey, Turkey 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_custom_heading text=”9 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]
Evrensel Daily faces a fine of 200,000 Turkish lira
Evrensel Daily is being sued for 200,000 Turkish lira worth of compensation
27 September 2019 – Evrensel Daily has been sued for compensation by Serhat Albayrak, the head of one of Turkey’s largest media groups and the brother of Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, who is also President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son-in-law.
Serhat Albayrak is seeking 200,000 Turkish lira (nearly £27,000) in non-pecuniary damages over an article published in the newspaper on 7 April 2019. The article, “AKP’ye kim oy kaybettirdi?” (“Who is responsible for the slide in AKP’s vote?”), is alleged to have been written by Ceren Sözeri, a respected academic and media ethics lecturer.
The trial is due to begin on 4 March 2020 at the Istanbul Commercial Court of First Instance.
Link(s):
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/387636/serhat-albayrak-evrensele-200-bin-tllik-tazminat-davasi-acti
http://bianet.org/english/media/213595-serhat-albayrak-sues-daily-evrensel-demands-200-thousand-liras-for-damages
https://t24.com.tr/haber/serhat-albayrak-tan-evrensel-gazetesine-200-bin-liralik-tazminat-davasi,841094
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Court / Judicial
Two former Samanyolu TV staff members arrested
17 September 2019 – Two former producers for the closed down TV station Samanyolu were arrested in Ankara, Anadolu Agency reported. An arrest warrant has been issued for a third former producer.
The warrants for their arrest were issued as part of an ongoing criminal investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against former employees of Samanyolu TV’s Ankara bureau on alleged links to “FETÖ/PDY” (Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure).
Link(s):
https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/samanyolu-tvnin-eski-calisanlarina-feto-operasyonu/1586937
https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/samanyolu-tvnin-eski-calisanlarina-feto-operasyonu
https://www.medyaradar.com/samanyolu-tvnin-eski-calisanlarina-operasyon-haberi-2014162
Categories: Arrest / Detention / Interrogation
Source of violation: Police / State security
Local chair of Journalist Association in Rize attacked
17 September 2019 – Gençağa Karafazlı, the local chairperson of Turkey’s Contemporary Journalists Association’s (ÇGD) branch in the Black Sea city of Rize, Evrensel reported.
Karafazlı was in a café in Rize when he was shot in the leg. The assailant dropped his gun and fled the scene in a taxi. Karafazlı subsequently was hospitalized.
Link(s):
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/387044/gazeteci-gencaga-karafazli-silahli-saldiriya-ugradi
http://gazetekarinca.com/2019/09/rizede-gazeteci-gencaga-karafazliya-silahli-saldiri/
https://www.haberturk.com/rize-haberleri/71914813-rizede-gazeteciye-silahli-saldiri
Categories: Physical Assault / Injury
Source of violation: Unknown
Former Taraf reporter Hüseyin Özkaya sentenced to 7 years in prison
17 September 2019 – Hüseyin Özkaya, a former reporter for the closed-down newspaper Taraf, was convicted of “membership in a terrorist organization”, Anadolu Agency reported. Özkaya was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison by the 16th High Criminal Court of Ankara.
The indictment alleged that Özkaya used the encrypted messaging service ByLock, which Turkish authorities consider to be the primary communication tool between members of the Gülen movement. He was also accused of having deposited cash in Bank Asya, a bank considered to be run by the Gülen movement and where holding a deposit account has been widely used as evidence for the charge of membership in a terrorist organization.
Link(s):
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/387019/taraf-gazetesi-muhabiri-huseyin-ozkayaya-7-5-yil-hapis-cezasi
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Court / Judicial
Veteran journalist Uğur Dündar sentenced to “reading books”
12 September 2019 – Veteran journalist Uğur Dündar was convicted of “insulting a public official” by a court in Istanbul over an article he wrote in 2014, online news website Bianet reported.
Journalist Uğur Dündar sentenced to “reading books”
The 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance of Küçükçekmece found Dündar guilty of “insulting” former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and handed down the journalist a prison sentence of 11 months and 20 days. The court did not defer the verdict. However, taking into account Dündar’s “age, personality, his social and financial status,” the court ruled to give an alternative sentence in the form of reading books and/or scholarly articles about “crimes against honor” at least two hours every week at university libraries for a period of five months and 25 days.
This was the retrial of a 2015 case, where the same court had sentenced Dündar to 11 months and 20 days on the “insult” charge. That ruling was later overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeals, which ordered a retrial.
Link(s):
http://m.bianet.org/bianet/ifade-ozgurlugu/212926-mahkemeden-hakaret-karari-ugur-dundar-haftada-2-saat-kitap-okuyacak
https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2019/yazarlar/ugur-dundar/kitap-okuma-cezasi-5331190/
http://www.diken.com.tr/ugur-dundara-kitap-okuma-cezasi/
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Court / Judicial
Journalist Oktay Candemir faces investigation over social media post
12 September 2019 – The Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor of Van has launched a criminal investigation against journalist Oktay Candemir on the allegation of “insulting the president,” Mezopotamya news agency reported. The accusations against Candemir are based on a social media post in which he shared photos of President Erdoğan and a comment.
Candemir recently gave his statement to a prosecutor in Van as part of the investigation.
Link(s):
http://mezopotamyaajansi20.com/tum-haberler/content/view/68974
https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gundem/2019/09/13/gazeteci-candemire-cumhurbaskanina-hakaret-davasi/
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Court / Judicial
Evrensel’s former managing editor fined
12 September 2019 – Cem Şimşek, the former responsible managing editor of Evrensel daily, was sentenced to 41,666 Turkish Lira (around $ 7,300) for “failure to properly publish a retraction” on an article about the Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Evrensel reported.
The 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance of Bakırköy in Istanbul acquitted Şimşek of the charge of “insulting a public official” stemming from the article published in the newspaper in July 2018. However, the court fined both Şimşek and the newspaper’s owner, Cemal Dursun, for using “retraction” as title instead of title of the retraction itself, which said “Our response to daily Evrensel’s unsubstantial article on Berat Albayrak.” Berat Albayrak is also the son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Link(s):
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/386645/evrensele-yayinladigi-tekzipten-41-bin-lira-para-cezasi
https://gazetekarinca.com/2019/09/gazeteci-cem-simseke-hem-para-cezasi-hem-de-beraat/
https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gundem/2019/09/12/albayrak-tekzibinin-tekziptir-basligiyla-yayinlanmasina-ceza-verildi/
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Court / Judicial
Jin News reporter Melike Aydın given 15-month jail sentence
9 September 2019 – Jin News reporter Melike Aydın was sentenced to 15 months in prison on the charge of “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization,” online news website Gazete Karınca reported.
Aydın was facing a trial over a social media post from 2006. The Bayraklı 20th High Criminal Court in Izmir, which oversaw the trial, deferred Aydın’s sentence.
Link(s):
https://gazetekarinca.com/2019/09/gazeteci-melike-aydina-1-yil-3-ay-hapis-cezasi149717/
https://t24.com.tr/haber/gazeteci-melike-aydin-a-1-yil-3-ay-hapis-cezasi-verildi,838765
https://www.evrensel.net/haber/386415/jinnews-muhabiri-melike-aydina-1-yil-3-ay-hapis-cezasi
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Court / Judicial
Turkey’s media watchdog fines broadcaster
5 September 2019 – The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has fined private broadcaster TV5 over an interview with Etyen Mahçupyan, a journalist and ex-advisor of former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Susma platform reported. During the broadcast, Mahçupyan said an operation was carried out against Davutoğlu supporters within media through Serhat Albayrak, the owner of the biggest pro-government media group Turkuaz and brother of Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak. The latter is also the son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The operation had resulted in Serhat Albayrak becoming the most influential media tycoon of the country, Mahçupyan had added.
The media watchdog argued that Mahçupyan’s claims constituted a “defamation, blacklisting and breach of privacy.” “RTÜK concluded that [Mahçupyan’s statements] went beyond the boundaries of criticism and contained words that are degrading, defamatory and accusatory,” RTÜK said.
TV5, which only broadcasts on the Internet and private digital platforms, said it would appeal the decision. After serving as a prime minister for more than a year between 2015 and 2016, Davutoğlu fell off with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). He was eventually expelled from the party on September 2019.
Link(s):
http://susma24.com/rtukten-tv5e-ceza/
https://t24.com.tr/haber/tv-5-e-pelikan-cezasi-2-defa-daha-pelikan-derse-yayin-lisansi-iptal-edilecek,838201
http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/siyaset/1566615/TV5_te_Etyen_Mahcupyan_in__Pelikan__cikisina_RTUK_cezasi.html
Categories: Criminal Charges / Fines / Sentences
Source of violation: Government / State Agency / Public official(s) / Political party[/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:1571649978179-76d82e2e-9a49-3″ taxonomies=”35195″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
21 Oct 2019 | Belarus, Belarus 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_text]
Public official sues Telegram blogger
26 September 2019 – The head of the Slonim district government Henadz Khomich sued Stiapan Putsila (better known by his pseudonym Stsiapan Sviatlou), the blogger behind NEXTA, one
Blogger Stsiapan Sviatlou is being sued by the head of Slonim district government
of Belarus’ most popular Telegram channels.
Khomich’s is suing Putsila for 50,000 roubles (nearly £20,000) worth of compensation for what he says is “moral damage” for a post that Putsila published in August 2019. In the post, Putsila said that Khomich had been detained for drunk driving and suggested that corruption was involved. Similar lawsuits have been filed against news websites belaruspartisan.by, 21.by, and bobruisk.ru, which republished the message.
Link(s): https://nn.by/?c=ar&i=238079&lang=ru
https://nn.by/?c=ar&i=238083
Category: Subpoena/Court Order/Lawsuits
Source(s) of violation: Known private individual(s)
Blogger receives threats
24 September 2019 – Blogger Andrei Pavuk from the town of Aktsiabrski in the Homel region received threats from an unknown person via Viber.
The messages were received on the eve of the court hearing of his lawsuit against the police aimed at receiving compensation for an unlawful search and detention, which Pavuk believes was done to intimidate him and to exert psychological pressure on him.
In March 2019, police raided Pavuk’s apartment, seized his professional equipment, handcuffed him and brought to the local department of the Investigative Committee for interrogation. The blogger was told he was held on suspicion of knowingly submitting a false danger warning to the authorities under under Art. 340 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Investigators alleged that the Ministry of Emergency Situations received a warning message from his email.
Link(s):https://euroradio.fm/ru/blogeru-andreyu-pauku-ugrozhayut-s-filippin-podumay-padla
https://baj.by/be/content/skazhy-dzyakuy-shto-nichoga-tabe-ne-padkinuli-blogeru-andreyu-pavuku-daslali-pagrozy-i
Category: Online Defamation/Discredit/Harassment/Verbal Abuse
Source(s) of violation: Unknown
Police filed report against Belsat TV journalists
19 September 2019 – Darya Chultsova, a Mahiliou-based freelance journalist, was summoned to Bialynichy District Police Department for questioning. Because she is not associated with an accredited news outlet, a police report was filed against her for illegally producing and distributing media content under Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
The police report stated that on 21 August 2019, Chultsova interviewed students’ parents at a high school. The next day, the interviews were allegedly shown on Belsat TV.
Link(s): https://baj.by/ru/content/posle-zatishya-vozobnovilos-presledovanie-zhurnalistov-za-sotrudnichestvo-s-belsatom
https://baj.by/be/content/sud-adpraviu-spravu-zhurnalistki-dari-chulcovay-na-dapracouku
Category: Arrest/Detention/Interrogation, Criminal Charges/Fines/Sentences, Subpoena/Court Order/Lawsuits
Source(s) of violation: Police/State security
Freelance journalist fined for working without accreditation
18 September 2019 – Freelance journalist Zmitser Mitskevich was fined by Pastavy District Court (Vitsebsk region) for contributing to Belsat TV. Because he is not associated with an accredited news outlet, he was charged with illegally producing and distributing media content under Art. 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
Link: https://baj.by/en/analytics/fines-journalists-violating-article-229-administrative-code-chart-updated
Category: Criminal Charge/Fines/Sentences
Source(s) of violation: Police/State security
Bloggers sued for covering environmental protests
17 September 2019 – Brest-based bloggers Siarhei Piatrukhin and Aliaksandr Kabanau learned that they are being sued for defamation by the lead-acid battery plant, I-Power, at the Brest Region Economic Court.
The lawsuit stems from the journalists’ interview with two environmental activists who claimed that contamination resulted from environmental violations committed by I-Power. The interview appeared on the YouTube channel Narodnyj Reportior.
It is not the first time that Kabanau and Piatrukhin have been sued by I-Power: in 2018, a judge ordered the bloggers to remove their YouTube video about the construction of I-Power’s battery plant and to publish an apology.
Link: https://baj.by/be/content/blogery-syargey-pyatruhin-i-alyaksandr-kabanau-raptouna-apynulisya-adkazchykami-u-sprave-ab
Category: Subpoena/Court Order/Lawsuits
Source(s) of violation: Known private individual(s)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1571647405268-b77e79c5-1924-10″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
14 Oct 2019 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Incident Reports
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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=”3 Incidents” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Journalist beaten and then detained while reporting
Journalist Nurlan Gahramanli was attacked by police and private security staff in September
30 September 2019 – Freelance journalist Nurlan Gahramanli was filming a group of Karabakh war veterans being beaten by the State Oil Company security staff when he was attacked by the police and SOCAR security staff. He was beaten and sustained an injury on his face, before being taken to the police station where he was questioned. He was released later the same day.
In interviews with Meydan TV, the war veterans said that they were attacked by the SOCAR staff over a property which they say they acquired legally. SOCAR, in a statement, said that the building was acquired illegally and requested that the veterans pay a bribe to keep the property.
They say that their staff engaged in no physical violence and that the police were called. Police and the relevant government institutions are investigating.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/MeydanTelevision/videos/2457266644371148/
https://www.facebook.com/HamamTimes/videos/953324968350052/
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation; attack to property;
Source of violation: public/state security;
Journalist detained outside court room
23 September 2019 – Voice of America’s Azerbaijan correspondent Tapdig Farhadoglu was detained outside the Grave Crimes Investigation Unit building, according to the independent outlet Contact.az.
Farhadolgu was filming protesters outside the building when police abruptly stopped him, confiscated his camera and microphone, and took him to the police station where his phone was also confiscated. He was prevented from contacting his family or his lawyer.
He was released half an hour later, after receiving a warning not to engage in such activities again.
Links: http://www.contact.az/ext/news/2019/9/free/Social/ru/83950.htm
https://criminal.az/jurnalist-tapdiq-ferhadolunu-polisler-saxlayib/
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/amerikan%c4%b1n-s%c9%99sinin-jurnalisti-tapd%c4%b1q-f%c9%99rhado%c4%9flu-aksiya-zaman%c4%b1-polis-t%c9%99zyiqi-il%c9%99-%c3%bczl%c9%99%c5%9fib/5094592.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dlvr.it
Categories: arrest/detention/interrogation; attack to property;
Source of violation: public/state security;
Journalist subject to physical violence
11 September 2019 – Tezehan Miralamli, a journalist with the opposition newspaper Azadliq, was covering a court case against opposition activist and member of Popular Front, Ruslan Amirli, when he was attacked by police officers who tried to push a group of journalists away from the courthouse.
Miralamli fell to the ground and received minor injuries. Azadliq condemned the forceful removal of journalists from the scene, and called for a fair investigation into the actions of the police.
Links: https://www.facebook.com/Gozetciportali/videos/361360401484419/
https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/s%C9%99rh%C9%99dsiz-reportyorlar-jurnalistin-fiziki-t%C9%99qibi-informasiya-azadl%C4%B1%C4%9F%C4%B1n%C4%B1n-pozulmas%C4%B1d%C4%B1r/5080562.html
http://toplum.tv/az/jurnalist-mehkemeye-muraciet-edeceyini-deyir/
https://gozetci.az/azadliq-q%c9%99zeti-%c9%99m%c9%99kdasina-zor-t%c9%99tbiq-olundugunu-b%c9%99yan-edib/
Categories: physical assault/injury
Source of violation: police/state security;[/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:1571227966662-718da11a-d7c2-3″ taxonomies=”8996″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
