The Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan gave a warning notice to the Institute of Freedom and Safety of Reporters

The Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan directed a warning notice about violation of legislative regulations to one of the human rights centers of the country, the Institute of Freedom and Safety of Reporters (IFSR). Head of the organization Emin Guseinov estimates it as a pressure in connection with a civil campaign "Sing for democracy".

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that about 20 non-governmental organizations took part in the campaign "Sing for democracy" aimed at drawing public attention to the problem of violation of human rights in Azerbaijan on the eve on the contest "Eurovision-2012". On January, 23, the organizers of the civil campaign declared their intention to resort to actions of protest in case if the authorities fail to take efficient measures for solving the problem of human rights.

At a press conference on January, 7, Emin Guseinov pointed out that a "blackening campaign" in "Eni Azerbaijan" newspaper belonging to the ruling party, and state newspaper "Azerbaijan" against IFSR and other human rights centers participating in the campaign "Sing for democracy" preceded the warning notice of the Ministry of Justice.

In particular, on January, 24, "Eni Azerbaijan" newspaper published an article "Eurovision: a new target for traitors of the nation" in which the participants of the campaign "Sing for democracy" were accused of aiding to forces "antagonistic" to Azerbaijan.

At the end of January "Azerbaijan" newspaper published similar statements. It also declared that IFSR pursued mercenary objectives of its leader Guseinov instead of protecting the rights of journalists.

After that, at the end of last week the human rights organization received a notice signed by manager of Registration and notarial directorate of the Ministry of Justice. In particular, there was a reprimand in the message of failure to inform the Ministry of Justice about holding election of Chairman of IFSR.

Besides, the notice contains a reference to a complaint of an anonymous person from Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR) who states that the organization "places biased and unverified information about the situation with human rights in NAR" at www.nakhchivan.org.az web-site in this way violating clause ten of the Law "On Mass Media".

Emin Guseinov called these reprimands absurd because election of the chairman was a domestic affair of the organization and the reference to the complaint from NAR was completely unfounded for the source of the complaint was not specified, besides, it was not mentioned which information exactly at the web-site of IFSR was "unverified".

Guseinov did not rule out that the Ministry of Justice was preparing the ground for deprivation of IFSR of registration which can happen after two warning notices allowing the Ministry to appeal to court against the organization.

However, Guseinov said that even if registration of the Institute of Freedom and Safety of Reporters was canceled the organization would still go on with its human rights activities.

Guseinov reported that in connection with the warning notice IFSR was going to appeal to court. Besides, the organization's appeal will be mailed out to the authorities of Azerbaijan, "Eurovision-2012", OSCE, the European Union, Council of Europe and the respective departments of UNO.

Maria Dale, Executive Director of Norwegian "House of Human Rights" who was present at the press conference, condemned the warning notice of the Ministry of Justice.

"We will inform World community about wrongful actions of the government of Azerbaijan. We estimate this campaign as a pressure on the institutions of civil society because Head of "Resource Center for development of democracy and NGOs" working in NAR Malakhat Nasibova also received a similar warning. This cannot but worry us", Dale emphasized.

Independent journalist Shahveled Chobanoglu also estimated the warning notice to IFSR as an instrument of political pressure on independent institutions of civil society in connection with the campaign "Sing for democracy".

Director of "Turan" media agency Mehman Aliev approved of the decision of IFSR to appeal to court as well as undertake an international campaign on the case.

Head of Democratic Journalists' School Rovshan Gajibeili, Head of the Center of protection of freedom of faith and religion (DEVAMM) Ilgar Ibragimoglu, Coordinator of the Club of Human Rights Rasul Jafarov, journalist and human rights activist Idrak Abbasov and Executive Director of the Center of election monitoring and studies of democracy Bashir Suleimanly also estimated the warning of the Ministry of Justice as a pressure facility.

Press service of the Ministry of Justice has not commented on the warning notice to IFSR yet declaring that the comments would be provided later.