Democratic community indignant with new conviction of journalist Fatullaev

In Azerbaijan, representatives of the regional and international democratic community condemn the court ruling with regard to journalist Einulla Fatullaev according to which he is given a new term of imprisonment.

Dunia Miatovich, OSCE representative on the freedom of press, has condemned the court verdict with regard to the journalist. "I am deeply disappointed with the ruling which is yet another attempt to silence Azeri press, using a doubtful criminal charge", notes Miatovich.

In its statement, the international organization protecting journalists "Reporters without Borders" states that it is "shocked" by the sentence of Garadag court with regard to Fatullaev. "We firmly condemn this new sentence to the journalist and consider it politically motivated and another proof of the strive by the authorities to silence critical voices. It demonstrates contempt by the authorities of the European Court of Human Rights ruling which requested that Fatullaev should be immediately released on April 22", notes the statement.

"The verdict was announced only one day after the visit in Baku of the US State Secretary Hillary Clinton who expressed her concern in connection with indictment of the two bloggers, Adnan Gadzhizade and Emin Milli, who had also been sentenced under false charges", runs the statement further. The organization is also struck by the fact that Fatullaev's term of imprisonment will start from July 6, rather than from December 31 of last year, the moment of his transfer from colony No 12 where he was serving his term of 8.5 years.

The Norwegian embassy has also reacted to the court ruling. "The previous and the current indictment of Fatullaev have become a barrier on the way of Azerbaijan to the European and the Euro-Atlantic space to which the country rightfully belongs. We believe that it is time for Azerbaijan to make correct steps in this direction. In this connection, keeping Fatullaev in prison may only bring harm", runs the embassy statement.

Local human rights and political organizations also firmly condemn the Fatullaev's indictment. The statement by the Institute of Freedom and Security of Reporters (ISBR) notes that "the new accusation of Einulla Fatullaev of illegally storing drugs has been framed in order not to release him from prison in the face of inevitable ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on the release of the journalist".

Lala Shovket, leader of the Azeri Liberal Party (LPA), has also condemned the sentencing of Fatullaev to 2.5 years more. In the opinion of Shovket, the court ruling is "illegal, inhuman and unjust" and bears a political character.

In their turn, representatives of press services of the official structures, such as president's administration, Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, refrain from comments on the Fatullaev's indictment and the issue of non-fulfillment of the Strasburg Court judgment with regard to the journalist.