On 17 February 2013 I wrote about the case of Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of the website Haqqin.az, a former AI prisoner of conscience and winner of press freedom awards (see also quote at the end of this post) who seems to have taken a more apologetic stand with regard to violations in his home country Azerbaijan. Just a few days before – 11 February – the NGO Civil Rights Defenders had published a piece under the title: ‘New crackdown on human rights activities in Azerbaijan’. There seems to be no stand taken by Fatullayev (at least not in English).
Avaz Zeynalli, chief editor of Khural newspaper, charged for tax evasion and corruption.
The Azeri government is putting new pressure on the country’s already repressed civil society. NGOs that receive even minor funds can be severely punished, according to a new draft law. The draft follows a series of repressions of media workers and civil activists. According to the proposed amendments NGOs receiving donation over the equivalent of 190 euro without a proper agreement, face up to 3500 euro and confiscation of property. This increases the authorities’ control over NGOs. The violations have grown in the beginning of 2013. Media workers that have been covering demonstrations and riots have been arrested, questions and in some cases beaten. At the same time the homes of journalists and civil activists have been searched, detained, subjected to gas attacks, put under surveillance and in other ways obstructed in their work.
Currently, there are 9 journalists behind bars in Azerbaijan. One of them is Tofig Yagublu, Yeni Musavat newspaper columnist and deputy chairman of the oppositional party, who is arrested and charged of ‘attempting to undermine the socio-political stability in Ismayilli region in Azerbaijan, organizing actions violating the public order and resisting representatives of the authorities’. Besides prison sentences, journalists are subjected to various forms of harassment.
A recent example is Rahim Hajiyev, deputy chief editor of Azadliq newspaper, who was summoned to the Prosecutor General`s office on February 5th and threatened with criminal liability for writing a critical article about planned protests of residents of the Shamakhi region of Azerbaijan. A correspondent of the Azadliq newspaper, who had been writing on the same topic, is repeatedly intimidated by the district prosecutor ‘for leaking the news about local protests to the media’. A number of other reporters who were covering opposition protests on January 26th were beaten and detained by the police while performing their professional duties. Another development that raises concern is the imprisonment of Avaz Zeynalli, chief editor of Khural newspaper, (pictured above) who is charged for tax evasion and corruption in a case that local human rights defenders consider fabricated.
http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/news/new-crackdown-on-human-rights-activities-in-azerbaijan/
As recent as April 2012 International Press Institute (IPI) Acting Deputy Director Anthony Mills said: “We are delighted to hear that UNESCO has decided to give the award to Mr. Fatullayev. The courage and resilience he has displayed in fighting for press freedom before, during and after he spent four years in prison serves as a source of inspiration, and this award is well-deserved. We are proud to have Mr. Fatullayev as a member of IPI and its Azerbaijan National Committee and to see his name added to the list of illustrious people UNESCO has similarly honoured.”
- ‘Western’ human rights defenders accused of double standards by controversial Azeri journalist (thoolen.wordpress.com)
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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