"Reporters without Borders": release of Zakhidovs could improve the image of Azerbaijan

The international human rights organization "Reporters without Borders" has expressed its regret that Ganimat Zakhidov, editor of the oppositional newspaper "Azadlyg" (Freedom) published in Azerbaijan, and his brother satirist Sakit Zakhidov (Mirza Sakit) were returned behind the bars despite numerous appeals of their relatives, friends and human rights activists with demands to pardon them.

"We are saddened by this news," runs the press release of the organization that has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent; the organization believes that the authorities "have missed an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their adherence to the freedom of press and tolerance to those who criticizes them, and to improve the country's international image."

On December 5, the "Reporters without Borders" sent an appeal to President Ilham Aliev urging him to pardon Sakit and Ganimat Zakhidov in the context of Muslim holiday Kurban Bayram. "This step of the authorities would help improving the state of affairs in the sphere of freedom of mass media in Azerbaijan," the appeal had stated.

On Monday, December 8, in the evening, the temporary stay at large was over for brothers-journalists Ganimat and Sakit Zakhidov, who are serving their terms in Azerbaijan.

Upon the end of the "seventh day" ceremony in memory of their deceased father, the brothers were taken away from their native village of Neisari, Shemakhin District, by employees of the Penitentiary Service who accompanied them back to their colony.