IRFS correspondent to Nakhchivan Elman Abbasov held a press conference at IRFS today in order to raise the human rights and media situation, in addition to the recent harassment he has faced.
Abbasov said that the human rights situation in Nakhchivan has deteriorated. He has been unable to obtain any information on the missing youth activist Javid Heydarov for the past 20 days.
Under the pseudonym Alim Farajov, Javid Heydarov posted comments regarding official impunity and legal violations on Facebook. Nobody knows where he is; they suspect he has been detained by police, reported Abbasov. He said that investigation is underway and they will meet Heydarov`s family.
The journalist also spoke about provocations he has encountered. Clothes that he had bought in Turkey for his family, at a total value of 300 AZN, were confiscated by the Customs Office at Nakhchivan International Airport on October 14th. He alleged that this incident is related to his professional activity. Abbasov said that he will pursue this matter in the courts.
Another human rights defender from Nakhchivan, Ilgar Nasibov, believes that pressures against independent human rights defenders and citizens who demand their rights have increased. According to him, Nehram village in the Babek region is particularly bad.
“The Nakhchivan authorities invoke provocations against human rights defenders. They are trying to damage our public image, to discredit us,” said Nasibov. “Nobody is protected from harassment in Nakhchivan.”
Under the pseudonym Alim Farajov, Javid Heydarov posted comments regarding official impunity and legal violations on Facebook. Nobody knows where he is; they suspect he has been detained by police, reported Abbasov. He said that investigation is underway and they will meet Heydarov`s family.
The journalist also spoke about provocations he has encountered. Clothes that he had bought in Turkey for his family, at a total value of 300 AZN, were confiscated by the Customs Office at Nakhchivan International Airport on October 14th. He alleged that this incident is related to his professional activity. Abbasov said that he will pursue this matter in the courts.
Another human rights defender from Nakhchivan, Ilgar Nasibov, believes that pressures against independent human rights defenders and citizens who demand their rights have increased. According to him, Nehram village in the Babek region is particularly bad.
“The Nakhchivan authorities invoke provocations against human rights defenders. They are trying to damage our public image, to discredit us,” said Nasibov. “Nobody is protected from harassment in Nakhchivan.”