Azer Ali, correspondent of Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani Service, suffered a physical attack while performing his professional activity on June 14, the journalist personally informed the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety today (June 14). According to the journalist, Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov did not allow media representatives to attend his meeting with local people in Salyan district of Azerbaijan.
“I wanted to interview the residents after their meeting with the minister. But an employee of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) made me leave the area, using vey abusive language towards me” Ali said.
IRFS tried to get in touch with MES press service in an attempt to sort out the issue, but no one from the Ministry answered our persistent calls.