Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr I. Alizadeh / A group of Azerbaijani journalists will again begin protesting in September, the Chief-Editor of the Gundalik Azerbaijan newspaper, and a member of the Committee for Protection of Journalists, Shahvalad Chobanoghlu, reported in Baku on 17 August.
"In any case, we will hold protests demanding the protection of journalists' rights, the release of media representatives, and the ceasing of pressure on the press," the Chief-Editor said.
A group of Azerbaijani journalists decided in the autumn of 2007 to hold mass actions regarding the governmental pressure inflicted upon the media and the detention of journalists. Actions were not sanctioned by Baku City Executive Power and the journalists held several unsanctioned actions.
According to Chobanoghlu, there was a break in protests for several reasons. First, on the eve of the National Press Day there was a hope for pardon of jailed journalists and some steps were made in solving the problem. However, that did not happen. Second, the decision to temporary suspend actions was caused by very hot weather. Most of Azerbaijan newspapers' chief editors are not currently in Baku therefore, it has impossible to make any concrete decision on the matter. Moreover, chief editors cannot come to an agreement on this issue. We will restore our protest actions at the end of August or the beginning of September," Chobanoghlu said.
In his opinion, the protests are necessary, for the problems of the press have not been resolved.
The matter was discussed at the Committee for the protection of rights of the Chief-Editor of the Gundalik Azerbaijan and the Realny Azerbaijan, Eynulla Fatullayev, and a precise decision was made, he said. "If the Association of Editors does not hold protest actions, we - the Committee on Protection of Eynulla Fatullayev's Rights- will organize the actions ourselves.
Fatullayev was jailed in April 2007. He is charged in accordance with Articles 147.1 and 148.2 (calumny and insult) of the Criminal Code. He was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment. The National Security Ministry put forward new accusations against Fatullayev regarding threatening terrorism, including the spreading of national, ethnic, and religious hatred. The editor refutes the accusations.
Seven journalists are currently jailed in Azerbaijan.