Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (OSCE)
The OSCE Media Freedom representative, Harlem Désir, has called on Azerbaijani authorities to end ‘restrictive measures detrimental to journalists’ freedom and safety’. The following day, authorities in Baku arrested another journalist, editor-in-chief of the Khural newspaper, Avaz Zeynalov.
Désir expressed ‘grave concerns’ in his 18 December statement regarding the sentencing of Aziz Orujov, head of internet TV channel Kanal 13.
The Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Orujov to six years in prison on 15 December on charges of ‘illegal entrepreneurship’ and ‘abuse of power’.
According toCaucasian Knot, Orujov’s lawyer Elchin Sadigov said before his sentencing that Orujov was not at all involved in the financial management of the organisations, which the authorities have claimed violated the law.
According to Caucasian Knot, Azerbaijani activists believe Kanal 13 faces the threat of closure, as it frequently gives floor to human rights activists and opposition figures in the country, which has been criticised for cracking down on independent voices.
Désir called on the authorities to review Orujov’s verdict and to ‘end restrictive measures detrimental to his freedom and safety’.
According to the OSCE statement, in a letter to the authorities of 30 November, Désir noted that there were repeated reports that the prosecution ‘has not submitted any evidence of Orujov’s guilt to the court’.
Désir pointed to allegations that the journalist was subject to ‘persecution because of his work on Kanal 13, known for its independent reporting’.
‘I am hopeful that this decision will be overturned during the appeals process’, Désir added.
Another journalist detained
On 19 December, Baku police detained Avaz Zeynalov, editor-in-chief of the Khural newspaper. Zeynalov had reportedly been broadcasting on social media about how police were closing the motorway ‘often without any need’. He was accused of disobeying police.
Caucasian Knot quoted his lawyer as saying that Zeynalov pleads innocent. The trial is set to kick off on 20 December.
Trial of abducted journalist Mukhtarli
The OSCE’s Désir also raised concerns about the ongoing trial of journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, who was abducted in Tbilisi, Georgia on 29 May.
‘Notwithstanding the seriousness of reports that Mukhtarli was subject to attack and abduction, the spurious charges brought against him in Azerbaijan and the lack of evidence for keeping him in lengthy custody is troubling’, Désir said.
He urged the authorities to drop all charges against the journalist and respect his right to freedom of expression.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond doubt that the Georgian Government abducted investigative journalist Afgan Mukhtarli and handed him over to Azerbaijan.
Mukhtarli, a prominent journalist known for investigating official corruption in Azerbaijan, disappeared from the streets of Tbilisi on the night of 29 May 2017. He reappeared in Azerbaijani custody a day later and was charged with illegally crossing the border.
In it
The former deputy head of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG), Ioseb (Soso) Gogashvili, has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges including abuse of power. Supporters of the former official claim the charges are politically motivated.
Tbilisi City Court announced the decision on Tuesday afternoon.
The court found Gogashvili guilty of all five charges, which included exceeding official powers, obtaining, storing, and disseminating personal data, and illegally purchasing a
In this week’s episode of the Caucasus Digest, Robin Fabbro talks to Ani Avetisyan and Ismi Aghayev about the latest accusations of war crimes levelled against Azerbaijan.
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Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli has identified Giorgi Trapaidze, the head of Georgian counterintelligence, as being personally among his abductors.
Nodar Meladzis Shabati, an investigative show on TV channel Pirveli, broke the story on 1 October.
After showing Mukhtarli images of three officials from the State Security Service (SSG) possibly involved in his kidnapping, Mukhtarli recognised Trapaidze as the driver of the car by which he was taken from Tbilisi.
Mukhtarli, a prominent
The OSCE Media Freedom representative, Harlem Désir, has called on Azerbaijani authorities to end ‘restrictive measures detrimental to journalists’ freedom and safety’. The following day, authorities in Baku arrested another journalist, editor-in-chief of the Khural newspaper, Avaz Zeynalov.
