Today pardoned journalists have been released from the prison.
IRFS correspondents met with “Mukhalifat” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Rovshan Kabirli and “Senet” Newspaper correspondent Rafig Tagi and they spoke via telephone with other journalists-Faramaz Allahverdiyev, Yashar Agazade and Samir Sadagatoglu.
IRFS staffs witnessed the release process of “Mukhalifat” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Rovshan Kabirli. R.Kabirli told to the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety that, he’ll start his working within the next few days. He also emphasized that, he’ll conduct a press conference related to his expressions on pardon decree.
In his interview to the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, “Mukhalifat” Newspaper correspondent Yashar Agazade noted that, “I appreciate the pardon decree. I am very happy for the release. I am also sad because of incomplete pardon. Not all the imprisoned journalists have been released. I condemn this act. It seems that, supreme sections of the government which are cause for the imprisonment of M.Sakit and E.Fatullayev still continue their ambitions. M.Sakit might be released immediately, because his family consisting of 6 people still remains alone”. At the same time, the journalist also emphasized that, “I am thinking over to take any decision related to imprisoned journalists with released correspondents at the moment”.
Yashar Agazade was born on 25 September 1979 in the Zengilan region in Hakari village. He is single. On May 16 in 2007 the Yasamal District Court adopted a decision to imprison Rovshan kabirli on the basis of a criminal lawsuit put forth by Parliamentarian Jalal Aliyev and AMAY Company, on the basis of article 147 (libel) and 148 (defamation) of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code. According to Open Stock Company’s lawsuit, he was sentenced 2.6 year prison.
“Nota bene” Newspaper correspondent Faramaz Allahverdiyev noted that, “I am thinking over the problems occurred in my health at the moment. I have planned to conduct a press conference and to be operated after January 20 ”.
Faramaz Allahverdiyev (Novruzoglu) was born in 1965 in the Garkhun village of the Sharur region in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. He is married and has three children. He is serving a 2.6 year prison sentence 30 January 2007, on charges of libel and insult put forth by Minister of Interior ramil Usubov and Chairman of the Committee to Work with Azerbaijan’s Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov.
“I am grateful to IRFS and all junior organizations which took part in the release of the imprisoned journalists.” “Senet” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Samir Sadagatoglu who is in his family at the moment, noted that, he is still energetic. “After 10-15 day holiday, I’ll return back to my work”.
“Senet” Newspaper correspondent Rafig Tagi noted that, though he was shocked a little during the first days of the imprisonment, then he could control the situation he was in. The journalist considers his imprisonment as dream. As for his written article, the journalist emphasized that, “the article is a philosophical position of the author, this is not a crime. The article didn’t insult anyone”.
Rafig Tagi was born on 5 August 1950 in the Khanchobanli village of Masalli region. He is married and has three children. He is serving a three-year prison sentence since 4 May 2007. The Sabail District Court found him guilty of inciting religious hatred by writing the article “Europe and Us”, which published in “Senet” Newspaper.