The Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety (IRFS) is strongly concerned over a smear campaign against Azadlig newspaper director Azer Ahmedov. IRFS considers this kind of interference into the personal life of a media representative as unacceptable and disseminating pornography videos about him in social networks without following any ethical norm as inadmissible
IRFS considers that actions of this kind can be used against not only Azadlig, a critical newspaper, but also against the entire opposition and free media.
Specifically, attacks against media in Azerbaijan usually begin with smear campaigns and forces that try to strangle freedom of speech then resort to more serious steps.
IRFS recalls that Azadlig editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahid (Zahidov) and director Azer Ahmedov faced a similar setup in February, 2005. A week later, on 2 March, 2005, Monitor magazine editor-in-chief Elmar Huseynov was killed. As of now no one has been brought to justice for this murder.
The Porn video of Azer Ahmedov was posted on the social networks on October 12th. The video still remains on Youtube.com.
IRFS considers this video is invasion into someone’s personal life, which contradicts with Azerbaijan Republic Constitution and laws, as well as international acts and this affair will not be advantageous to the Azerbaijan government in the parliamentary elections.
IRFS calls on the Azerbaijan government to bring to justice the people who were involved in preparation of this video, and disseminated this video in social networks.
Specifically, attacks against media in Azerbaijan usually begin with smear campaigns and forces that try to strangle freedom of speech then resort to more serious steps.
IRFS recalls that Azadlig editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahid (Zahidov) and director Azer Ahmedov faced a similar setup in February, 2005. A week later, on 2 March, 2005, Monitor magazine editor-in-chief Elmar Huseynov was killed. As of now no one has been brought to justice for this murder.
The Porn video of Azer Ahmedov was posted on the social networks on October 12th. The video still remains on Youtube.com.
IRFS considers this video is invasion into someone’s personal life, which contradicts with Azerbaijan Republic Constitution and laws, as well as international acts and this affair will not be advantageous to the Azerbaijan government in the parliamentary elections.
IRFS calls on the Azerbaijan government to bring to justice the people who were involved in preparation of this video, and disseminated this video in social networks.