On May 3rd the representatives of independent journalism in Azerbaijan marked World Press Freedom Day in front of the grave of the late editor-in-chief of Monitor magazine Elmar Huseynov.

World Press Freedom Day commemorates journalists who were murdered in relation to their professional duties.  

The ceremony opened with prayers for the late journalist. At the end of the ceremony the participants read out an appeal addressed to the government with 3 demands:

1. To abide by the obligations in the fields of human rights and freedom of expression undertaken before the Azerbaijani people and international community

2. To create conditions for the development of free and independent media in Azerbaijan

3. To release the imprisoned journalists

 The participating journalists pledged to continue their struggle for the freedom of media in Azerbaijan.

Elmar Huseynov was shot dead in front of his apartment allegedly by Georgian citizens Teymuraz Aliyev and Tahir Khubanov 7 years ago. But Georgian government refused to deliver them claiming that there is no evidence to prove their guiltiness.