Azadliq newspaper staff is demanding that Gasid Press Distribution Company repay its debt. The journalists held a protest in front of the Gasid office under the slogans like “We demand our money” and “Shame on those who stifle free press”. They said Gasid owes the newspaper 45,000 AZN (approximately same amount in EUR) from sales. “They paid us only a tiny portion of the debt”, comments Azadliq newspaper editor Rahim Hajiyev.
Azadliq columnist Shahvalad Chobanoglu believes that what is happening is a political plot.
“You know, Gasid’s owner is one of the leading figures of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party and his company is under state control. We have been demanding our money for more than a year, but this problem is still unsolved. The purpose is to stifle and silence our newspaper’s activity” said Chobanoglu.
Azadliq representatives were met by Gasid’s deputy chairman Agali Ismayilov, who told them and media representatives that part of the debt had been paid to the newspaper and 20,000 AZN of it had been paid to Azerbaijan publishing company according to a mutual agreement.
“But we still owe 39,196 AZN to Azadliq and we admit it. But due to the seasonal fall in the newspaper sales we have encountered the known problem. That is why we plan to pay it off gradually commencing September” Ismayilov noted.
Rahim Hajiyev said they will appeal to the court unless their problem is solved.