Reporters Without Borders called on Interior Minister Ramil Usubov to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Azerbaijani and foreign journalists, a report publicized by Reporters Without Borders in connection with 26 November opposition rally states.
The violence was used by police against at least 12 journalists working for various news media when a demonstration organised by the opposition alliance Azadlig was dispersed by force on 26 November in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.
Most were showing their press ID and some of them were wearing the navy-blue jacket which the Press Council gives to journalists to protect them from attack. Many of them were attacked as they were photographing the police dispersing protesters the document underlined.
The fact that the crowd did not disperse voluntarily at the end of the two hours allowed by the authorities for the demonstration should not have led to the use of such violence by the police, and it is unacceptable that journalists should be beaten during opposition demonstrations whether authorised or not,” the press freedom organisation said.