INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONDEMNS AZERBAIJAN’S GOVERNMENT REGARDING NEW CASE AGAINST EYNULLA FATULLAYEV

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, issued a statement that condemned in strong terms Azerbaijani officials' claims that jailed journalist Eynulla Fatullayev had been found in possession of drugs, calling the accusations another in a long series of provocations against independent-minded critics of the government.

“I visited Eynulla Fatullayev twice in his high-security prison and find allegations of heroin smuggling or possession highly improbable," said Haraszti. "This latest incident shows that Azerbaijani authorities are continuing their drive against dissenting voices. I call upon Azerbaijan to fully comply with OSCE media freedom commitments"

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement regarding E.Fatullayev.
“We call on authorities with the Azerbaijani Penitentiary Service and the Garadag District Police to drop this new, farcical charge against our colleague Eynulla Fatullayev and to investigate those who planted the drugs on him,” said CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova. In the statement CPJ expressed concern regarding the second charge against Fatullayev during his imprisonment and the possibility that he might be sentenced again.
On 29 December, in the morning, 0.22 grams heroin was found in Eynulla Fatullayev’s cell. The journalist and his lawyer said that this is provocation and is aimed at preventing the decision that could be issued by the European Court of Human Rights to free Fatullayev in the near future.