The following four articles from Today.Az show a quickly developing response to the US Ambassador’s comment on media freedom. It ends with the release of a journalist from RadioLiberty. Maybe there’s hope here yet if the country is responsive to EU and US pressure to lift their human rights record. I went in search of more complete articles but this is all I could find at Today.Az.
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10 December 2007 [10:19] - Today.Az
US Ambassador to Azerbaijan: “I agree with comments and statements from the US State Department, international organizations and local human rights organizations on imprisonment of reporters”.
“I agree with comments and statements from the US State Department, international organizations and local human rights organizations on imrisonment of reporters”.
“We call upon the government of Azerbaijan to review the situation with the media freedom and cases of imprisonment of reporters in the country”, the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ann Derse, announced.
While stating that USA is a friend to Azerbaijan and is ready to assist the country in conduction of democratic reforms, Anne Derse reminded that existence of independent and objective mass media is among one of the most important attributes of democracy.
URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/41753.html
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10 December 2007 [12:16] - Today.Az
Ramiz Mekhtiyev: “Reporters were imprisoned not for their professional activity”
“The imprisoned reporters were brought to responsibility for certain law offenses rather than for their professional activity”, the head of president’s office Ramiz Mekhtiyev told reporters.
He noted that only the President has a right to decide on amnesty, which he uses regularly.
“I am confident that he will turn to this subject, including the issue of reporters, once again”, he said.
URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/41758.html
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10 December 2007 [12:42] - Today.Az
Ramiz Mekhtiyev: “Human rights are observed
in Azerbaijan and there are no restrictions of freedom of speech”
“The critical statements, regarding violation of human rights in Azerbaijan, are baseless”, Ramiz Mekhtiyev, the head of the president’s office of Azerbaijan, told reporters.
He noted that human rights are observed in Azerbaijan and there are no restrictions of freedom of speech.
“These issues are considered by certain international organizations from their own positions, which results in their critital statements, regarding Azerbaijan”, he said.
URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/41760.html
10 December 2007 [19:20] - Today.Az
Convicted journalist of Radio Liberty has been released in Azerbaijan
Azeri court of Nakhchivan has gave judgement to release Ilgar Nasibov, recently imprisoned employee of Radio Liberty, Day.Az reports with the reference to Institute of Freedom and Security of Journalists.
At the moment, Ilgar Nasibov is packing up and prerares to leave for home.
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