RUH Azerbaijani Journalists Defense Committee releases report on freedom of expression and press

As APA reports, 29 court proceedings involving media outlets and journalists took place in the reporting period. Court proceedings were held in January, May and June most of all.

The newspapers "Gundalik Azerbaijan" (Daily Azerbaijan), "Realniy Azerbaydjan" and "Azadliq" had to stand court most of all in the past half year. Journalists were detained for their jobs in most cases.

The "Yeni Dushunje" newspaper chief editor Rovshan Ahmadov and journalist were detained by the National Security Ministry while they were taking bribe in February.

Two journalists were detained in May. The "Yeni Khabar" newspaper editor-in-chief Faig Balabayli was detained while taking bribe too. Chief editor of the "Khalq tribunasi" (People’s tribune) Sharif Salmanov was suspected of taking hostage foreign nationals. He was taken to Narimanov district police station #17 but released after a short period.

The Prosecutor's Office of Republic initiated criminal case against the newspaper "Ghun" and "New Fact" for their publicizing caricatures criticizing Iranian supreme religious leader. The Prosecutor’s Office also launched a criminal case on the newspaper "Ideal" but later was dismissed by the Khatai district court.

Two local televisions Aygun TV and Khachmaz TV stopped functioning in the past six months.

Two facts on assault on journalists were observed in the reporting period. One of them is the "Azadliq" newspaper correspondent Fikret Huseynli and editor-in-chief of "Bizim Yol" Baheddin Haziyev. The Interior Ministry launched a criminal case on physical assault on Fikret Huseynli but later on ended by his own request.

The Absheron district police office launched a criminal case under article 127.1 of the Criminal Code with regard to the assault on Baheddin Haziyev. In addition, an investigation group composed of representatives from the Prosecutor's Office and Interior Ministry was set up regarding this incident.