Sharur Regional Executive Office has released a statement regarding the beating of journalists in Nakhchivan, which tries to discredit journalist Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev by misrepresenting facts. The statement received by “Qafqazinfo.com” says that IRFS website and some opposition newspapers disseminate wrongful reports claiming that Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev, resident of Jalilkand village of Sharur region, as well as IRFS and Turan news agency regional correspondents was harassed due to his journalistic activities.
“We inform you that with the intent to prevent waste of electricity, the representatives of relevant agencies went on a raid on July 13, 2011. During the raid illegal use of power was revealed in the car-washing service station operating in the yard of Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev, resident of Jalilkand village, and documented. Mehdiyev wanted to decieved the representatives by presenting a power meter that belong to some other person. Additional investigations revealed that Mehdiyev’s business activity was illegal; he violated the Code of Labor, and did not have necessary documents required to run the said station. Having no other way before the just facts, Mehdiyev said that he is a journalist and threatened the local executive office employees and libeled them. Seeing that the threats and libeling were of no use, he reported wrongful facts to the media outlets and tried to use the suppor of his supporters. Sharur Regional Executive Office reiterated that the said facts were observed by the people around as well and documented. The fact that a person violates the law and prefers libeling presenting himself as a rights defender and journalist, contradicts with morality. Sharur Regional Executive Power states that it will go on with fighting against such affairs in future as well, regardless of the identity and position of the persons.”
IRFS correspondent to Nakhchivan Elman Abbasov and Turan Information Agency correspondent Ilgar Nasibov were assaulted by Sharur District Police Department employees while preparing news report in Jalil village of Sharur on July 15th. The journalists were beaten, their photo and video cameras were seized and the records deleted. the pressures on the journalists kicked off after the visit of “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” correspondent, political commentator Michael Ludwig to Nakhchivan. Ludwig had to leave Nakhchivan as a result of pressures imposed by local authorities. The fact that the foreign journalist was accompanied by Mehdiyev at his visit to Sadarak region disappointed the local authorities, who then decided to punish him.
On July 13th, Sharur District Executive Power Deputy Head Aladdin Mammadov, together with several persons, arrived at IRFS correspondent to Nakhchivan Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev’s house, pressured on him and cut off the power supply to the small car-washing station run by Mehdiyev. He was again assaulted on July 15 with regard to the said issue. Elman Abbasov and Ilgar Nasibov had arrived at the scene to investigate the incident.
IRFS correspondent to Nakhchivan Elman Abbasov and Turan Information Agency correspondent Ilgar Nasibov were assaulted by Sharur District Police Department employees while preparing news report in Jalil village of Sharur on July 15th. The journalists were beaten, their photo and video cameras were seized and the records deleted. the pressures on the journalists kicked off after the visit of “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” correspondent, political commentator Michael Ludwig to Nakhchivan. Ludwig had to leave Nakhchivan as a result of pressures imposed by local authorities. The fact that the foreign journalist was accompanied by Mehdiyev at his visit to Sadarak region disappointed the local authorities, who then decided to punish him.
On July 13th, Sharur District Executive Power Deputy Head Aladdin Mammadov, together with several persons, arrived at IRFS correspondent to Nakhchivan Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev’s house, pressured on him and cut off the power supply to the small car-washing station run by Mehdiyev. He was again assaulted on July 15 with regard to the said issue. Elman Abbasov and Ilgar Nasibov had arrived at the scene to investigate the incident.