Imprisoned "Gundelik Azerbaijan" and "Realniy Azerbaijan" newspapers' editor-in-chief Eynulla Fatullayev sent a thank you letter to the President of US Barack Obama. Fatullayev’s father Emin Fatullayev told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety that the letter was written in connection with U.S. President Barack Obama’s statement for International Press Freedom Day (3 May).
In the letter Fatullayev noted that four journalists are currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan and they were all encouraged by Obama’s statement. “Your statement has inspired us and has strengthened our faith in democracy more,” Eynulla Fatullayev wrote in the letter.
On 1 May, U.S. President Barack Obama released a statement in connection with World Press Freedom where he mentioned Azerbaijan’s name saying, “In every corner of the globe, there are journalists in jail or being actively harassed: from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, Burma to Uzbekistan, Cuba to Eritrea.”
"Gundelik Azerbaijan" and "Realniy Azerbaijan" newspapers' editor-in-chief Eynulla Fatullayev was sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment on 21 April 2007 for insulting honor and dignity. Later he was convicted under articles 214.1 (threatening terror), 283.2.2 (incitement of ethnic/national, social or religious hatred abusing authority), and 213.2.2 (tax evasion) of the Criminal Code and was sentenced to 8.5 years of imprisonment on 30 October 2007.
On 1 May, U.S. President Barack Obama released a statement in connection with World Press Freedom where he mentioned Azerbaijan’s name saying, “In every corner of the globe, there are journalists in jail or being actively harassed: from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, Burma to Uzbekistan, Cuba to Eritrea.”
"Gundelik Azerbaijan" and "Realniy Azerbaijan" newspapers' editor-in-chief Eynulla Fatullayev was sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment on 21 April 2007 for insulting honor and dignity. Later he was convicted under articles 214.1 (threatening terror), 283.2.2 (incitement of ethnic/national, social or religious hatred abusing authority), and 213.2.2 (tax evasion) of the Criminal Code and was sentenced to 8.5 years of imprisonment on 30 October 2007.