24 February 2007, 23:15
Нuman Rights Watch calls president of Azerbaijan to protect journalists
The Нuman Rights Watch Organization is insistently calling Ilkham Aliev, president of Azerbaijan, to take steps to stop the policy of impunity for the violence applied to journalists, and to ensure the observance of the country's international legal obligations in the sphere of freedom of expression and freedom of press, runs the message of Holly Cartner, executive director of the Нuman Rights Watch for Europe and Central Asia, directed to the head of Azerbaijan Ilkham Aliev.
"We express our deep concern because of rapid deterioration of the atmosphere, in which independent media are forced to work in Azerbaijan," the message states.
The document also lists the facts of rapid growth of the number of criminal cases opened under the claims of state servants against journalists, refusal to grant a license to the ANS TV Channel, ousting of the opposition newspaper "Azadlyg," and many others.
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent
