France, Strasburg, 16 April /corr. Trend A.Maherremli / The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, expressed his concern over the situation of the press in Azerbaijan. "I am very much concerned about this issue that the Laws on Slander and Insult are used against those who express their dissatisfaction. Groundless accusations are being made against the journalists and they are made criminally responsible according to the articles not relating to their professional activities," Davis said at a press-conference in Strasburg.
According to him, it is wrong to consider that the journalists are 'above laws'. "If any journalist is accused of crime, he/she should be made answerable before the court. However, in several Council of Europe participating countries, so much proceedings have been held against the criticizing journalists that the observers are dissatisfied to see the prosecution in this character," he added.
At present, three journalists are serving sentences according to various articles in Azerbaijan. Recently five journalists were pardoned by the President.