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AZERBAIJAN: TWO JOURNALISTS IMPRISONED

25 January 2005

The International Press Institute (IPI) and the Azerbaijan Journalists Confederation are calling on free expression advocates to write to authorities in Azerbaijan urging them to release two jailed journalists and express concern over attacks on the press.

Rauf Arifoglu, the editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper "Yeni Musavat," is serving a five-year jail sentence for allegedly organizing anti-government riots following the fraud-tainted presidential elections in October 2003.

Local journalists and human rights activists believe the criminal charges against Arifoglu were an effort to silence him and "Yeni Musavat" for their critical reporting on the government's activities. They cited weak prosecutorial evidence and numerous procedural violations during the trial.

Vugar Mammedli, the founder and editor-in-chief of the newspapers "Hurriyyet" and "Futbol+,'" has been imprisoned for alleged financial fraud.

To send a letter, visit: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64027

For more information on the cases, visit:

- IPI: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2005/pr_Azerbaijan25.01.05.htm
- Committee to Protect Journalists: http://www.cpj.org/news/2005/Azer07jan05na.html
- Reporters sans frontières: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12250