The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) condemns the Supreme Court decision on refusal to fulfill the imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev’s appeal against 5 November decision of Appeals Court, which sentenced him to pre-trial detention. IRFS assesses this decision as Azerbaijani government’s refusal to release the journalist, in a contradiction to the European Court of Human Rights judgment
Specifically, instead of executing the European Court of Human Rights decision on 11 November, the Supreme Court Plenary Meeting declined to free the journalist citing 5 November 2010 judgment of Appeals Court which sentenced him to pre-trial detention with regard to the narcotics charge brought against the journalist.
IRFS supposes that the authorities intentionally deployed narcotics on the journalist’s clothes (29 December), as a result of which he was sentenced to 2.5 years in jail. IRFS believes that the autorities took this step with the aim to hold the journalist in prison despite the 22 April 2010 judgment of European Court.
IRFS states that the ruling establishment once again proved that refusal of rule of law and violation of human rights are common in Azerbaijan.
IRFS calls on the Azerbaijani government to respect the European and National legal values and to immediately execute the European Court of Human Rights decision on the immediate release of journalist, who was already served more than 3 years and 8 months in prison.
IRFS supposes that the authorities intentionally deployed narcotics on the journalist’s clothes (29 December), as a result of which he was sentenced to 2.5 years in jail. IRFS believes that the autorities took this step with the aim to hold the journalist in prison despite the 22 April 2010 judgment of European Court.
IRFS states that the ruling establishment once again proved that refusal of rule of law and violation of human rights are common in Azerbaijan.
IRFS calls on the Azerbaijani government to respect the European and National legal values and to immediately execute the European Court of Human Rights decision on the immediate release of journalist, who was already served more than 3 years and 8 months in prison.