On 5 March, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammerberg held a press conference regarding results of his visit to Azerbaijan. During his visit, he discussed the situation of Mass Media freedom, the operation of the law enforcement system, and the situation for NGOs in Azerbaijan, according to Turan Information Agency.
Hammerberg said that Monitor journal editor-in-chief Elmar Huseynov`s murder hasn’t been solved and the Council of Europe attaches a great importance to investigate journalist’s murder for his work.
Hammerberg said that he visited imprisoned Gundelik Azerbaijan and Realniy Azerbaijan newspapers’ editor-in-chief Eynulla Fatullayev, Azadlig newspaper editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahid, and youth bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade. He emphasized that he raised the issue to release these persons during his visit with Azerbaijani authorities.
Hammerberg expressed his concern regarding amendments made to legislation that ban the taking of video or photos without permission, and voiced his support for the elimination of laws that restrict journalist’s activity.