OSCE Representative asks Azerbaijani President to halt persecution of journalists

"I recalled in detail the growing persecution of journalists, with five imprisoned now and a dozen new cases still pending," said Miklos Haraszti after a meeting with President Aliyev in Baku.

"I thanked the President for his 2005 temporary moratorium call and his last year's pardoning of two convicted journalists. But I also pointed out that Azerbaijan today is the country in the OSCE region with the highest number of journalists in prison, among them Eynulla Fatullayev, the editor of the most read newspaper."

The OSCE Representative suggested that in order for Azerbaijan to comply with OSCE commitments and Council of Europe standards it needs to introduce a legal moratorium as soon as possible and prepare a de-criminalization reform.

Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, also took part in the meeting with the President.

Haraszti also greeted today's decision by the National TV and Radio Council to grant a licence for six more years to the country's most popular private broadcaster ANS TV and Radio. The decision follows the Representative's meeting on 25 April with the Chairman of the Council, Nushiravan Mahharamli.

"Along with the OSCE Office in Baku, which has also expressed its concern on several occasions over the fate of ANS, I see this decision as providing more choice for the audience and therefore benefiting pluralism in the media," said Haraszti.

Miklos Haraszti also took part in a conference in Baku on the role of the media in developing tolerance and mutual understanding, hosted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. OSCE