H. E. Ilham Aliyev
President Elect of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Office of the President
19 Istiqlaiyyat St.
370066, Baku
Azerbaijan

Fax: +994 12 92 35 43

H. E. Ramil Usubov
Minister of the Interior
7, Husu Hajiyev str.
370005 Baku
Azerbaijan

Fax: +994 12 98 22 85

Vienna, 17 October 2003

Your Excellencies,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, is deeply concerned about the press freedom situation in Azerbaijan and the appalling violence against journalists that took place during the 15 October presidential elections.

According to information provided to IPI, on the night of 15 October, a journalist from the Baku based Avrora weekly, Azer Qarachenli, was kidnapped in front of his Musavat headquarters by masked men. His brother, the editor-in-chief of the weekly Fekhri Ugurlu, inquired about him at a number of police organisations on 16 October, but was told that Qarachenli had neither been arrested nor detained. Contradicting these statements, TV channels at the time showed Qarachenli being taken by special police forces wearing black masks.

Furthermore, IPI is concerned about the wave of violence against those members of the media who were covering the results of the presidential election. On the basis of information given to IPI a number of local and foreign journalists were detained by the police or beaten by the security forces during an opposition demonstration in Baku.

Among those beaten were Sahil Kerimli, journalist for the Lider television channel, who was attacked on the night of 15 October; Zafar Guliyev, from the TURAN agency, who sustained a head injury; Emin Huseynov, also from the TURAN agency, who was taken unconscious to the intensive care department suffering from concussion; and Ilkin Guliyev, from the TURAN agency, who sustained a head injury. All three were severely beaten by soldiers despite the journalists showing their press passes.

In addition, Fuad Hasanguliyev, from Interfax-Azerbaijan was hospitalised with a head injury; Sabina Iskenderli, from Interfax-Azerbaijan sustained various injuries, Agil Jamal and Hayal Babayev from the Azadlig newspaper were beaten with clubs.

Also during the demonstration Azer Hasret, Secretary General, Azerbaijan Journalists Confederation, and the Director of IPI Azerbaijan National Committee was beaten with clubs. Shirhan Agayev, from Prognoz newspaper suffered back injuries; Sarkarda Sarkhanoglu, first deputy editor of Hurriyet sustained a head injury; Nabi Alishov, Adil Huseynov and Tahir Aliyaroglu of the Hurriyet newspaper were hospitalised with head injuries. Tebriz Sadayoglu, also from the Hurriyet newspaper sustained back injuries; Nidjat Daglar, from the Baki Habar newspaper was hospitalized in a grave condition, and Kenul Veliyeva and Metanet Muslimgizi, also from the Baki Habar newspaper were beaten with clubs. Vasim Mamedov from the Baki Habar newspaper sustained a head injury and was hospitalised.

Eynulla Umudov and Etibar Savalan form the Galanjak Gun newspaper were beaten with clubs; Elza Abishova, Cumhuriyyet newspaper was hospitalised; Mansura Sattarova and Lala Musa gizi from the Cumhuriyyet newspaper sustained head injuries; and Afgan Gafarov and Kenan Rovshanoglu from the Cumhurriyet newspaper were beaten with clubs.

Moreover some representatives of the mass media were prevented from monitoring the election. Those included Elnur Sadikhov, regional correspondent of Azadlig newspaper; Firudin Guliyev, regional correspondent for the Garbin Sesi newspaper; Kenul Salimgizi, Safar Gumbatov, Murshud Hasanov, Mahir Mamedli, Mubariz Jafarli and Salim Azizoglu, correspondents for the Yeni Musavat newspaper; Aslan Abdullayev, regional correspondent for the Molla Nasreddin magazine; Matanat Aliyeva, correspondent for the Impuls newspaper; Parviz Hashimov, correspondent for the Uch Nogta newspaper; Vidadi Bayramov, correspondent for the Hurriyet newspaper; Eynulla Garayev, correspondent for the Fedai newspaper; Medina Aliyev, a freelance journalist; Fahraddin Hajibeyli, reporter from the Liberty station; Tahir Pasha, head of the Association of Military Journalists; Mushfig Mamedli, correspondent for the Baki Habar newspaper; Abbasali Rustamli, employee of the Azadlig newspaper.

IPI considers these attacks a scandalous crime against journalists carrying out their professional duty. IPI would like to remind you that free press coverage of elections is one of the criteria necessary for free, democratic and legitimate elections, as well as for

With the above in mind, IPI condemns this latest violation of press freedom and calls on Your Excellencies to work with the media to create an environment in Azerbaijan that allows journalists to practice their profession free of harassment and the threat of death.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director