15 March 2008, 14:30
Identikit of a possible attacker on journalist made in Azerbaijan
Yesterday, Agyl Khalilov, correspondent of the newspaper "Azadlyg" who had been attacked by unknown persons on March 13, was giving evidence to the investigation officers until late at night. Azer Akhmedov, director of the newspaper, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that an identikit of one of the persons following the journalist during two previous weeks had already been made.
The investigating officer asked about details of the incident of February 22 when the correspondent had been beaten. Azer Akhmedov thinks that the February 22 attack and the March 13 attempt are going to be joined into one case. As for Agyl Khalilov's condition, its remains satisfactory.
Meanwhile, the Committee for Protection of Journalists has sharply criticized the attempt on Agyl Khalilov, correspondent of the newspaper "Azadlyg". "This last attack, one of a series of attacks on journalists in Azerbaijan, has been undertaken with the aim of forcing the press to keep silence", claims Joel Simon, CPJ executive director.
"We call on police to identify all persons connected with this crime. Inability to do this will demonstrate once more, who is an enemy of independent and opposition press in Azerbaijan", notes Simon.
Author: Rafael Gasanov, CK correspondent
