The Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety (IRFS) strongly condemns the failure of the Appellate Court to fulfill the appeal against the decision of the Sabail District Court adopted on 11 November 2009 against youth bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade.

Today, 10 March, in the Baku Appellate Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Gail Mammadov, a hearing was conducted on the appeal of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade’s lawyers Isakhan Ashurov and Elton Guliyev against the decision of the Sabail District Court adopted on 11 November 2009. 

Today, 10 March, in the “Respublika lyuks” hotel, a roundtable was held on the theme “Freedom of information in Azerbaijan and the right to obtain information.” The roundtable was held within the framework of the ten days of events for Elmar Huseynov; and was organized by ARTICLE 19, “Yeni Nesil” Journalist Union and Media Rights Institute.

On 8 March, Ayanda Mursaliyeva visited her husband, imprisoned Azadlig Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ganimat Zahid, who is being treated in the Penitentiary Service’s Treatment Facility.

The Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety condemns the restriction of access to Radio Liberty’s website by internet providers operating in Azerbaijan and assesses this as censorship by Azerbaijan government on the internet indirectly. 

Restriction of access to Radio Liberty website from several internet providers operating in Azerbaijan including Bakinternet”, “Azeronline”, “Uninet”, “Ultel”, “Connect” and “Adanet” is continuing.

Interpol National Central Bureau in Azerbaijan responded to the information inquiry of the Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety. Interpol National Central Bureau Deputy Chief Ismayil Akhundov responded to the inquiry that was addressed to Interpol National Central Bureau Chief Sahib Mirzeyev regarding proceedings into search for Georgian citizens Tahir Khubanov and Teymuraz Aliyev who are suspected in the murder of Monitor Journal Editor-in-chief Elmar Huseynov. 

On 25 February Iceland Review’s photographer and deputy editor Páll Stefánsson was arrested by police in Sumqayit, Azerbaijan, according to Iceland Review newspaper.

The Television Academy began to operate at “Azerbaijan State Television and Radio Broadcasting” Closed Shareholder Society. Former president of Space TV channel and Journalism Chair head at Baku Slavic University Etibar Babayev has been appointed to rector of the Academy that began operating on 1 March, according to APA information agency. The Academy will prepare TV specialists and lessons will begin within one month.

On 5 March, an international conference was conducted on the regulation of TV and Radio sector in Azerbaijan, in the framework of project “Free Airwaves”.  The conference started with opening speechs by Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety Chairman Emin Huseynov, Media Rights Institute (MRI) Rashid Hajili, and IREX – Azerbaijan Media Party Head Shelly Markoff.