Azerbaijan: rewarding Ilham Aliev with "Journalists' Friend" Prize perceived differently

On December 29 in Baku, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev was decorated with the Prize "Journalists' Friend" for 2010, awarded by the Committee to Protect Journalists "RUH". It was ambiguously perceived by the journalistic community, politicians and civil society activists, who believe it illogical to reward the president, when the country has serious problems with the freedom of the press, and where there is pressure on media people.

In the course of the awarding ceremony in the "Gulistan" Palace it was announced that Aliev had been defined as "Journalists' Friend" as a result of polling of 30 daily and 19 weekly newspapers, 2 magazines, 11 news agencies, 13 media organizations, 8 data portals, 7 TV and 3 radio channels - 93 mass media outlets as a whole. 81 percent of respondents found President Aliev the most worthy candidate for the Prize "Journalists' Friend".

The Prize was founded in 1997 and was awarded till 2002; its last laureate was the deceased ex-president Geidar Aliev. In 2010, the Committee to Protect Journalists "RUH" decided to restore the award. It looks like a small sculpture of a dove with spread wings.

In the 1990s, the Committee "RUH" was actively protecting journalists' rights. However, after the Aflatun Amashev, Chairman of the Committee, became head of the Press Council, the activities of the "RUH" became invisible.

The above Aflatun Amashev, who awarded the Prize to President Aliev, noted that "this is a high appraisal by journalists of Aliev's successful policy in the area of the press." Ilham Aliev himself described what happened as "one of the most important days in his life." "I will strive to continue the development of the free, independent press in Azerbaijan and always carry out democratic reforms," he said.

Besides, at the ceremony, 31 newspapers and 8 news agencies received lump-sum material help: every newspaper received 3500 manats (about 4200 US dollars), and every news agency - 2500 manats (about 3000 US dollars).

On December 29, Isa Gambar, leader of the "Musavat" Party and Laureate of the 2000 "Journalists' Friend" Prize, refused from his award. In this way he protested against awarding it to President Aliev.

"Declaring the head of the country, where the freedom of media is suppressed, where journalists are murdered, maimed and criminally prosecuted, to be 'Journalists' Friend', is illogic and wrong," said Mr Gambar.

"I don't want my name to be used to attach some democratic image to this award and to state that both state officials and oppositionists became its laureates," said Isa Gambar and added that he would send his Prize received 10 years ago back to the Committee to Protect Journalists "RUH".

Ganimat Zakhidov, editor-in-chief of the "Azadlyg" newspaper, who had spent 2.5 years in prison, believes that "this prize has lost its value, as it was forgotten at all for many years, while at polling and summing up the principle of transparency was absent. "With Azerbaijan having a 'prisoner of conscience' among journalists (namely, Einullah Fatullaev, - note of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent), recognition of Ilham Aliev as "Journalists' Friend" looks ridiculous," said Mr Zakhidov.

The well-known publicist Shakhvalad Chobanoglu believes that the decision of the "RUH" was morally unjustified. "Aliev is no friend to journalists, as he pursues the policy of strangling the freedom of speech and rights of ordinary citizens," he said. Mr Chobanoglu believes that "it was Ilham Aliev who transformed Azerbaijan into a country, where journalism has become dangerous." According to the publicist, "this awarding was organized by the authorities themselves."

Mekhman Aliev, director of the agency "Turan", believes that those who voted for Ilham Aliev are "politically and financially dependent on the authorities."

At the same time, Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of the "Eni Musavat" newspaper, believes that if the president accepts the Prize "Journalists' Friend", it can be regarded as a "step forward", but "his policy does not look at all like friendly relations with journalists."

Lawyer Alesker Mamedli, an independent expert in the field of media law, has recalled the tightening of legislation in 2010. Thus, amendments to the media legislation even more restricted the freedom of speech; while the authorities refused to set up the office of Ombudsman, he said.