During a rally conducted in Baku at the State Oil Company Sport- Health Center in Bibiheybet on 17 September by incumbent Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) four journalists were subjected to pressure.
Radio Liberty correspondent Maarif Chingizoglu told this to “Media forum” news site, “During yesterday’s rally police mainly interfered with photo-journalists. They held me and ‘Trend’ information Agency photo-correspondent Emil Mammadov when we were photographing and took us to police car. The police detained Emil first. They detained me while I was trying to capture the moment. No other violation happened. After five or ten minutes Sabail District Polise Department Chief Kamal Valishov approached us and apologized saying that some misunderstanding occurred.”
As was reported yesterday, two employees of The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety – Etimad Budagov and Rasim Aliyev, were also subjected to pressure. This brings the total of journalists harassed yesterday at the YAP rally to four.