Azeri official chides reports on harassment of journalists

"We do not believe that beatings of journalists have widely spread in the country. The attack on the editor-in-chief of opposition Bizim Yol newspaper is an exception and the Azerbaijani government condemns it," the head of the President's Office socio-political department, Ali Hasanov, told journalists Friday, AssA-Irada informs.

Bahaddin Haziyev was abducted by five people, taken to the Masazir lake and beaten up there. The journalist suffered severe injuries.

Several international organizations have lately voiced concerns over what is described as increasing acts of violence and harassment of media representatives. The Amnesty International rights watchdog has cited "deterioration of freedom of speech and failure to investigate beatings and arrests of journalists in Azerbaijan".

Hasanov said the reports are far from reality. "We are doing everything in our power to disclose the incident and punish the culprits."

The official also commented on the statements by the US embassy in Azerbaijan and the OSCE office in Baku saying that the recent sentence, issued by the Azeri court on Wednesday to the members of an opposition youth movement charged with a coup attempt, was too harsh.

"The proceedings are not over yet. They [defense] are still entitled to appealing the case. Therefore, I am not inclined to express an attitude on the issue, as it could influence the decision of a higher court," Hasanov said.

The Yeni Fikir (New Thought) chairman Ruslan Bashirli was sentenced to seven years in prison, while his deputies Ramin Taghiyev and Said Nuriyev - to four and five years respectively.

/AzerNEWS/