TODAY.AZ / Politics

Azerbaijani Ombudsman: "It is time to reject previous methods and start to respect the opinion of people, without violating others' rights"

08 April 2008 [14:45] - TODAY.AZ
Day.Az interview with Azerbaijani Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova.
-What do you think of the hunger strike, carried out by a group of journalists?

-You know, any act of hunger strike arises concern among people. Due to it, we appealed to the journalists. Last Saturday I visited Eynulla Fatullayev and discussed the issue with him. We has a long conversation. His father also joined us. Anyway, I think this is not the method of struggle. But at any stage those who use this method aim to inform the community, authorities and world society about their resentment. This goal has been attained, therefore, I asked Eynulla to stop the strike, as each day after two weeks of hunger strike may be more complicated than the first five days.

My companions also visited the people, who supported Eynulla.

-Azerbaijan is often criticized by international organizations and various countries for problems in mass media. How do you assess the situation?

-Each party should review its attitude. It is time to reject these methods, time to respect opinion of people without violating their rights. By demanding observation of one's right, it is necessary to feel the limit, which should not be passed. This means that the process will improve further.

The country, where education is on a high level, has main potential for democratic reforms, though there are also problems. I think media should also change.

At the same time, the authorities should be more selective as to each case and anyway alternative methods of punishment should be applied. Authorities should not hurry to put a journalist to jail.

-Do you share the opinion of international organizations, recommending powers to replace criminal sanctions for mass media representatives with administrative ones?

-Today, it seems to me that the process is advancing in the positive direction. Being an ombudsman, I do not divide people into pro-governmental or opposition. Ombudsman should be unbiased to anyone, whose rights and violated.

As you know, I have appealed to Mister President with a request to imprisoned journalists. If previously we had only 9 imprisoned reporters, now we have only three. Thus, I hope for better.

/Day.Az/

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/44133.html

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