Human Rights Watch releases report on freedom of expression in Azerbaijan

Rachel Denber, Acting Executive Director, Europe and Central Asia Division said they have been working in Azerbaijan since 2007. Denber said they interviewed more than 40 journalists and mass media managers, people having an experience in this field, as well as government officials while preparing this report. The 94-page report described problems with freedom of expression in Azerbaijan and made recommendations to the government.

Denber said they also touched upon the issue of releasing Eynulla Fatullayev and bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizadeh. She said she hoped defamation law issue would be solved in Azerbaijan and reminded that President Ilham Aliyev said in his meeting with the Press Council members in July, 2010 that he would welcome adoption of this law.

Giorgi Gogia, South Caucasus researcher at Human Rights Watch spoke about the Azerbaijan’s commitments undertaken before the Council of Europe.

The researcher said some restrictions in the field of freedom of media could exist. “These restrictions should be imposed for protection of human rights and national security and described in the legislature”.


/APA/