Miklos Harasti: criminal punishment for defamation should be cancelled in Azerbaijan

The OSCE spokesman on freedom of mass media Miklos Harasti has welcomed liberation in Azerbaijan of three journalists from custody and called the authorities of the country to cancel criminal prosecution for defamation.

Mr Harasti's message sent to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, expresses satisfaction on the occasion of amnestying satirical poet Mirza Sakit (Sakit Zakhidov), journalist of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom) newspaper and Ali Gasanov, editor of the "Ideal" newspaper, who was released on April 11. Besides, Miklos Harasti gave positive estimate to the cancellation by the Appeal Court of the verdict on imprisonment for the term of 1 year passed to Asif Marzili, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Gezadlar" (Contrasts) newspaper.

At the same time, Mr Harasti has expressed hope that Azerbaijan will bring its legislation into conformity with European standards in the issue of defamation.

"Your positive intentions will bear fruit only if transformed into legal reforms," runs Mr Harasti's letter to Mr Aliev; the text of the letter arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from the Baku office of the OSCE. In particular, Miklos Harasti calls the authorities of Azerbaijan to cancel criminal punishments for defamation.

He has also expressed his concern of the two recently passed amendments to the law on mass media and television and radio broadcasting. He has asked the country's leader to return the law on television and radio broadcasting back to Parliament for revision and bringing into conformity with international standards and country's obligations.

"I hope that the present positive tendency to release journalists will soon affect the fate of those who are still in custody - Einullah Fatullaev, Ganimat Zakhidov and Mushvig Guseinov," runs the letter.