22 May 2007

Alert

Imprisoned editor target of death threat; two newspapers evicted amid media harassment campaign


Incident details

Eynulla Fatullayev

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Azerbaijani newspapers evicted, editor threatened

New York, May 21, 2007 - Local authorities evicted the independent Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language daily Gündalik Azarbaycan from their Baku offices on Sunday night, saying that the publications' building violates safety regulations. The action comes amid a series of threats, attacks, and cases of harassment targeting the muckraking newspapers - including, most recently, an anonymous death threat against their imprisoned editor, Eynulla Fatullayev.

"We are alarmed by the threat made against Eynulla Fatullayev and call on Azerbaijani authorities to take every necessary step to protect our colleague and thoroughly investigate the threats against him," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. "Given Azerbaijani officials' long record of harassing critical publications, we view the alleged building violations with great skepticism and urge authorities to allow the journalists to continue their work without further interruption."

On May 17, an unidentified man called Fatullayev's mother at home and threatened to kill her son in prison if the two newspapers continued to publish, Realny Azerbaijan reported. In April, Fatullayev was sentenced to 30 months in prison on charges of libelling and insulting Azerbaijanis. Fatullayev said the charges were fabricated, and an appeal is expected to be heard on June 6.

Realny Azerbaijan is known for its critical reporting of government activities. In March, Fatullayev reported that high-ranking Azerbaijani officials had ordered the 2005 slaying of newspaper editor Elmar Huseynov. Fatullayev received a death threat within days, but authorities did not investigate it or provide him with protection. In response to the most recent threat, Fatullayev's colleagues filed a complaint with the Interior Ministry, according to the local media organization, the Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS).

On Saturday, a fire official identified as Col. Rovshan Novruzov said an inspection found that the newly renovated building violated fire safety regulations and that the tenants must leave immediately, the independent the news agency Turan reported. The journalists refused to leave, but the building's electricity was turned off, according to local press reports.

Late Sunday evening, a colonel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and several soldiers returned to the building. The soldiers forcibly evicted the staff and sealed off the building, Gündalik Azarbaycan editor and reporter Uzeyir Jafarov told CPJ.

The fire violations were not specified. The Ministry of Emergency Situations said the floor of the newspaper offices was unsteady.

Jafarov, who was assaulted in April, attributed the building's closure to the papers' critical reporting of the government. "They were searching for reasons to shut us down and used this one," Jafarov told CPJ. Among the tenants of the 13-story buildings, IRFS reported, only Realny Azerbaijan and Gündalik Azarbaycan were not given time to remove equipment.

Earlier this month, CPJ named Azerbaijan one of the world's worst backsliders on press freedom. According to CPJ research, authorities have evicted other critical publications. In November, a Baku court ordered the eviction of opposition newspaper Azadlyg, The Turan news agency, Bizim Yol newspaper, and the Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety. Eynulla Fatullayev is among seven journalists currently in prison in Azerbaijan.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cpj.org



Source:

Putting free expression issues in perspective.

Sign up to receive IFEX In Context.

More on this case

Journalist Eynulla Fatullayev granted amnesty in honour of 28 May holiday 27 May 2011 Joint appeal to UNESCO director-general over Fatullayev case 4 May 2011 Government claims to have complied with ECHR judgment on Fatullayev case 4 May 2011 "Fifty Fatullayevs" outside London Embassy demand release of jailed Azerbaijani journalist 19 April 2011 Family of imprisoned journalist receives threatening phone call 13 April 2011 CPJ concerned about Fatullayev's safety, calls for his release 23 March 2011 Council of Europe Committee of Ministers must demand journalist's release, says International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan 2 March 2011 Fatullayev fears for his safety in prison 11 February 2011 Baku Appeals Court denies Fatullayev's appeal, defies ECHR ruling 3 February 2011 Supreme Court rejects imprisoned editor's appeal 3 January 2011 Council of Europe Committee calls on government to release Eynulla Fatullayev 8 December 2010 Fatullayev's fate lies with the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, says ARTICLE 19 6 December 2010 Editor Eynulla Fatullayev remains jailed despite ECHR call for his release 12 November 2010 In latest humiliation, newspaper editor appears in court inside cage 8 November 2010 Send a letter in support of jailed editor 29 October 2010 Joint letter calls for newspaper editor's release 28 October 2010 ECHR upholds decision on release of Eynulla Fatullayev 21 October 2010 Authorities say imprisoned journalist will not be freed regardless of appeal outcome 22 July 2010 Imprisoned editor sentenced to an additional two and a half years in prison 7 July 2010 IRFS appeals to president as imprisoned editor starts hunger strike 7 June 2010 Comply with European Court decision on case of imprisoned journalist, ARTICLE 19, International PEN urge 19 May 2010 Authorities urged to comply with ECHR order and release editor Eynulla Fatullayev 23 April 2010 European Court of Human Rights orders journalist's release 23 April 2010 Eynulla Fatullayev's appeal rejected 18 March 2010 Eynulla Fatullayev and family threatened 18 March 2010 Imprisoned editor concerned over possible threat to his life 3 March 2010 Editor's detention prolonged by two more months 1 March 2010 CPJ delegation calls for Eynulla Fatullayev's release 22 January 2010 Editor to be tried on new charge, sentenced to two months' detention in isolation unit 6 January 2010 Authorities trump up new charge against award-winning editor Eynulla Fatullayev 31 December 2009 Detained journalist harassed in prison 27 October 2008 Supreme Court upholds editor's conviction 4 June 2008 Imprisoned editor starts hunger strike to protest jailing of journalists 26 March 2008 Appeals court upholds conviction of critical editor 17 January 2008 Outspoken editor Eynulla Fatullayev sentenced to eight and a half years in prison 30 October 2007 Supreme Court upholds editor's prison sentence 27 August 2007 New terrorism charge brought against opposition editor already serving 30-month sentence for defamation 6 July 2007 Imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev receives death threats, inhumane treatment; his conviction confirmed 8 June 2007 Fifteen journalists seek political asylum in protest against closure of newspapers 29 May 2007 Imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev charged with terrorism; his home searched, his newspaper's computers, documents confiscated 24 May 2007 Editor of critical newspaper brutally beaten after protesting conviction of colleague 24 April 2007 Embattled editor jailed for libel and insult over article he denies writing 23 April 2007

At a glance

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan

IFEX members working in this country 2

 
Key reports and information
 
IFEX is a global network of committed organisations working to defend and promote free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.