Azerbaijan, Baku, 30 April / corr. Trend K. Ramazanova/ The arrest of journalists in Azerbaijan has a negative impact on the pre-election situation, Denis Bribosia, the head of the Baku Office of Council of Europe said to media on 30 April in Baku.
"It is not late yet to improve the situation for the successful elections," Bribosia said.
The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on 15 October 2008.
Three journalists have been detained in Azerbaijan: Ganimat Zahid, the editor-in-chief of Azadlig daily, his brother Mirza Sakit, the writer of the same paper and Eynulla Ftullayev, editor-in-chief of Gundalik Azerbaijan daily and Realniy Azerbaijan.
Earlier, the envoy of OSCE on freedom of media Michlosh Harazsti called on Azerbaijani government to pardon Azerbaijani journalists. "The journalists in Azerbaijan have been arrested for their critical articles and are accused of the acts which are not related to their professional activities," the OSCE envoy said.
The official Baku stated that he is sorry about the statement by the OSCE envoy. "Haraszti's statement was very emotional and he has a non-professional approach toward the situation in Azerbaijani press," Ali Hasanov, the head of the social and political department of Azerbaijani presidential administration said.
