Azerbaijan, Baku, 22 May/corr. Trend News S.Agayeva / The Ambassadors of the European Union (EU) countries in Baku discussed situation with media in Azerbaijan. On 22 May, the heads of the diplomatic missions of the European countries met with the director of opposition Azadlyg newspaper, Azer Ahmadov, and human rights activist Arif Yunusov, a source at French Embassy in Baku said.
"Discussions were held on the problems with freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, pressure on media before Presidential elections," Ahmadov reported to Trend . The Ambassadors were informed about case of journalist of Azadlyg newspaper, Agil Khalil, Ahmadov said.
According to the results of the monitoring on situation with freedom of expressions and press in Azerbaijan, in April 72 cases connected with journalists were registered. This fact was mentioned in the report for April within the media problems monitoring carried out by the League of Democratic Journalists.
In April Director of Azerbaijan Printing House, Agabey Asklerov, raised lawsuit against editor-in-chief of Khural newspaper, Avaz Zeynalli in accordance with articles 147.1 (slander) and 148.2 (insulting) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
The three detained journalists held in Azerbaijan are Ganimat Zahid, chief editor of Azadlig newspaper, Mirza Sakit, a journalist of Azadlig newspaper, and Eynulla Fatullayev, chief editor of Gundalik Azerbaijan and Realni Azerbaijan newspapers.
The appeal of journalist of Bizim Yol newspaper, Mushvig Huseynov, who was accused of article 311.1 (bribery) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan and sentenced to six years of imprisonment, was partially satisfied. He sentence period was reduced to five years.
In April four media representatives were threatened with death.
Within four days, the Baku Head Police Department and Baku City Executive Power imposed a ban on sale of newspapers in streets of the city and buses.
In 21 April, media representative went on hunger strike.
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