20:21, 18 May 2007

European Court can accept cases of journalists arrested in Azerbaijan

Denis Bribosia, Council of Europe (CE) Secretary General's Special Representative in Azerbaijan, has stated that CE Secretary General is concerned about arrest of seven journalists in Azerbaijan. The European Union has also called on Azerbaijani authorities to observe their liabilities of safeguarding the mass media activities in the country, the "Trend" reports.

The Special Representative has added that by virtue of Azerbaijan's membership in the Council of Europe the country's population can rely on European Court's assistance in proceedings initiated against journalists. "However, we hope that all these matters will be resolved at the level of corresponding courts in Azerbaijan," Mr. Bribosia said.

The "Caucasian Knot" has informed earlier that on May 16 the Yasamal District Court arrested Rovshan Kyabirli, editor of the "Mukhalifat" (Opposition) newspaper, and Yashar Agazade, a correspondent of the newspaper, and convicted them to 30 months of imprisonment. They were accused of slander and slander dissemination - especially grave crimes (Articles 147.1 and 147.2 of the Criminal Code).