The local Azerbaijani NGO Center for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) is restoring its operations.
CIJ Chairperson Sheyda Nasibli (Kamaloglu) said this during a press conference conducted today in the press center of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety.
“One of the main reasons for our inactivity was that our organization is not registered. We appealed to the European Court of Human Rights about this and the ECtHR issued a decision in November of 2007 to fulfill our lawsuit. We were paid 3,000 EURO in compensation for moral and material damages. However, the Supreme Court Plenum has not executed the ECtHR decision to this date. According to ECtHR decision, the Supreme Court Plenum has to ensure that we are given the 3,000 EURO,” said Nasibli, adding that if no measures are taken regarding this issue in the near future, an appeal will be sent to the European Court of Human Rights.
Nasibli noted that they are preparing documents to register their organization with new regulations, and they will send the documents to the Justice Ministry within ten days.
According to Nasibli, her stay in Turkey also was a reason that the organization’s operations were ceased. Therefore the organization will be run under a co-chairmanship. Well-known journalist Seymur Verdizade will be co-chairman.
Verdizade said that he will represent CIJ in Azerbaijan and will do everything to activate the organization. According to him, CIJ will be engaged in current problems of journalism and will implement projects to prevent assaults against media.
Democratic League of Journalists Chairman Yadigar Mammadli, Azerbaijan Journalists’ Trade Union Chairman Musfig Alesgerli, “Azadlig” Newspaper editor Rovshan Hajiyev, IRFS Chairman Emin Huseynov, Researcher Journalists Network member Jayhun Abdulla and others spoke, and wished CIJ success.
CJI, which was established in 2002, but ceased activities two and a half years ago due to problems being registered in the Justice Ministry.
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