Hunger Strike Not only Action to Achieve Target: Press Council Chair

Azerbaijan, Baku, 29 March / corr Trend S.Ilhamgizi / Aflatun Amashov, the chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan, considers that the hunger strike by journalists is not an only method to achieve the target.

"Human fate is behind the hunger strike and it requires a serious approach," Amashov told Trend .

Fatullayav, who was imprisoned for 8 years is kept in cartel 12, went on a hunger strike on 26 March. The editor-in-chief demands objective consideration of his case, release of arrested journalists and application of concrete protection mechanisms of the Council of Europe and OSCE.

The chief editor of Gundelik Azerbaijan newspaper, Shahveled Chobanoglu, editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat newspaper, Zahid Safaroglu and journalist of the newspaper, Elshan Balakhanli, are on a hunger strike to support Eynulla Fatullayev, editor-in-chief of Gundelik Azerbaijan and Realni Azerbaijan newspapers.

Amashov visited the journalists who went on hunger strike at the editorial office of Yeni Musavat newspaper.

Amashov stated that the Press Council is not indifferent towards the arrested journalists' fate and will continue acting until the last journalist is released. "I respect any action by journalists, including the hunger strike. At the same time I do not think that the hunger strike to be an only way to achieve the target. Unless the hunger strikers achieve target, they will lead themselves to death, is will be willful suicide," Amashov said.

A present three journalists are in custody in Azerbaijan.