INVITATION on roundtable discussion

End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in Azerbaijan

A free media is an essential pillar for keeping governments accountable and citizens informed. That’s why authoritarian regimes such as the one in Azerbaijan seek to intimidate, harass and silence the press by systematically targeting its journalists, kidnapping, arresting and even murdering them for their work. Lately, not only brave Azerbaijani journalists have been victims of the regime, more and more often their families and close ones are also targeted. Those who criticize the Aliyev regime or investigate sensitive issues like corruption, money-laundering, kleptocracy, do so at their peril.

Currently 14 journalists and bloggers are languishing in Azerbaijani jails. Only last week, one reporter was arrested and another went missing in Baku. Since 2016, the government has successfully blocked nearly all remaining major sources of independent news.

Given the ongoing crackdown against independent voices in Azerbaijan, and on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, on November 2nd, the IRFS cordially invites you to a roundtable discussion to address key issues of the country and mainly regarding jailed journalists and their associates, and the corruption that they have exposed. The «Azerbaijani Laundromat» and how the authorities have laundered almost 3 billion USD over a two-year period to buy influence across Europe and the world is also on the agenda. Another topic of discussion will be the importance of channeling stolen assets back to the civil society with an aim to address corruption and money laundering and promote democracy and human rights for the benefit of the Azerbaijani people.

The following speakers are scheduled to participate:

Emin Huseynov, Founder and CEO of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety,
Sevinj Osmanqizi, Women’s Media Watch Azerbaijan
Alex Raufoglu, Azerbaijan country specialist at Amnesty International USA, Azeri-American journalist
Additional speakers may be added.

Time: November 2nd 11a.m. to 1p.m.
Location: 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 700, Washington D.C. 20036

Please RSVP as space is limited, and only confirmed RSVP’s may attend.

for more information: + 41788788428 | info@IRFS.ORG

INVITATION TO A SIDE EVENT

at PACE autumn session in Strasbourg, 8 October 2018

Shrinking space for Civil Society
and Persecution of Human Rights Activists

On Monday, October 8th, 13:00 to 14:00, Room 10 in Palais de l’Europe, the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety invites you to a side event, sponsored by Ms. Olena Sotnyk, (Ukraine, ALDE), Rapporteur on the restrictions of the NGO activities (PACE, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee), with support of INGO Conference of the Council of Europe. » » » »

Thank you Mr Vice President,
The adoption of Azerbaijan’s UPR takes place amidst an on-going, and widespread, assault on the right to freedom of expression and other fundamental rights in the country. » » » »

Baku / 08.09.18 / Turan NEWS AGENCY

On the International Day of Solidarity of Journalists public figures gathered at the grave of Firangiz Huseynova, the mother of the executive director of the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS)s Emin Huseynov, who lives in political emigration and the chairman of the organization, blogger Mehman Huseynov, who was arrested last year. » » » »

Баку/24.08.18/Turan: Гарадагский районный суд Баку сегодня на выездном заседании в колонии номер 14 рассмотрел обращение известного блогера Мехмана Гусейнова об условно-досрочном освобождении в связи с отбытием более половины срока наказания.

Суд не удовлетворил обращение. Об этом журналистам сообщила адвокат журналиста Шахла Гумбатова.

По ее словам, администрация колонии представила в суд негативную характеристику на Гусейнова, заявив, что блогер “не встал на путь исправления”.

Его обвинили в “не искреннем отношении к сотрудникам колонии, в негативном отношении к труду, в не участии в работах по благоустройству и культурных мероприятиях”.

Сам М.Гусейнов заявил, что его вопрос решается не в суде и он был уверен, что его не собирались освобождать. “Это решает не начальник колонии или судья”, – сказал М.Гусейнов.

При этом, он отметил, что в колонии вообще нет места для проведения культурных мероприятий с участием тысячи заключенных.

Защита не согласна с решением суда. Адвокат указала, что Мехман Гусейнов за 1,5 года не имел дисциплинарных взысканий и замечаний. Защита подаст апелляцию.

*Блогер и председатель Института свободы и безопасности репортеров Мехман Гусейнов был осужден в марте 2017 года на 2 года лишения свободы по обвинению в клевете в связи с иском против него начальника Насиминского районного управления полиции Баку Мусы Мусаева.

Поводом для подачи иска послужили заявления Гусейнова о пытках над ним в указанном учреждении в январе прошлого года.

Однако, по убеждению правозащитников, истинной причиной преследования Гусейнова стали его видеорепортажи о роскошных виллах членов правительства и парламента Азербайджана.

Международная организация Amnesty International признала Гусейнова “узником совести”.

The court does not release Mehman Huseynov on probation

Baku / 24.08.18 / Turan: The Garadagh District Court of Baku today considered the appeal of the well-known blogger Mehman Huseynov about early release in connection with the serving more than half of the sentence. The court did not satisfy the appeal, said the lawyer Shahla Humbatova. According to her, the administration of the jail submitted a negative testimony to Huseynov, stating that the blogger “did not take the path of correction”. He was accused of “not sincere attitude to the staff of the jail, negative attitude towards work, not participating in works on improvement and cultural events.”

M.Huseynov himself stated that his question was not considered in court and he is sure that they are not going to release him. “This is decided not by the head of jail or the judge,” M.Huseynov said. At the same time, he noted that there is no place in the jail for cultural events with the participation of thousands of prisoners.

Protection does not agree with the decision of the court. The lawyer pointed out that Mehman Huseynov had no disciplinary sanctions and observations for 1.5 years. The defense will appeal.

* The blogger and chairman of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, Mehman Huseynov, was convicted in March 2017 for 2 years of imprisonment on libel charges, in connection with a lawsuit against him by the head of the Nasimi district police department, Musa Musayev. The reason for filing the claim was Huseynov’s allegations of torture against him at the said institution last January. However, according to human rights activists, the true reason for the persecution of Huseynov was his video reports about the luxurious villas of members of the government and parliament of Azerbaijan. International organization Amnesty International recognized Huseynov as a “prisoner of conscience” .