Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh / Jonathan Henik, the representative of the USA Embassy in Azerbaijan, has reported to Trend Agency on 16 August that the USA Embassy in Azerbaijan is considering the appeal of the Azerbaijani journalists for political asylum
More than 20 Azerbaijani journalists have demanded political asylum during the last three months after the closing of the Realniy Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan newspapers and the arrest of the editor of the newspapers.
Henik noted that the Embassy is classing the appeals as appeals from private persons who are under pressure. "We need to consult with our specialists from Washington. We will try to know whether these persons are really under pressure and criticism. I cannot say when we can respond to these appeals," Henik noted.
Moreover, journalists appealed to the representatives of France, Germany, Great Britain and Norway in Azerbaijan. While, the appeals of journalists have been considered in embassies, the journalists of Realniy Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan are in 'desperate state', Uzeyir Jafarov, the editor of the newspapers said. Within four months the families of the journalists will face serious difficulties, he added.
However, Aflatun Amashov, the chairman of the Council on Press, considers that the journalists do not have enough grounds to appeal against the pressure. "Such situations negatively affect the functioning of the press and the citizens in Azerbaijan," Amashov said. He added that these journalists have top professional skills and can find other jobs. "Journalists should stand all difficulties and should struggle. If they leave the country we cannot build a democratic and free society," Amashov said.
Currently seven journalists are under arrest.