Persecution against opposition press continues in Azerbaijan
From May 18, 2007 bank accounts of Azeri opposition "Baky-Kheber" newspaper are under arrest. Today press spreader companies refused to pay to "Baky-Kheber" means from realizing the newspaper, they explained their decision by the court's verdict, "Baky-Kheber" editor-in-chief Aydyn Guliev stated. Guliev said judge Gurban Abasov from the Appeal Court annulled the May 5, 2005 verdict of Sabail District Court on paying a 20 000 old manat fine (4 000 new manats) part by part.
The verdict went into effect several days ago. All financial means of the newspaper are frozen. The editor-in-chief noted the workers of the "Baky-Kheber" will hold a meeting in near future to make decision on the further activity of the newspaper. "Azerbaijan" publishing house also demands from "Baky-Kheber" to pay debts, which creates difficulties for activities of the newspaper.
Most recently Azeri opposition newspapers "Real Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan were forced to move from the building they occupied. Ministry of Emergency Situations initiated that move, Chief editor of "Gundalik Azerbaijan" newspaper Shahveled Chobanoglu informed.
"Representatives of the ministry say that the lower stories of this newly-built building are in breakdown situation and need repair. Following the logic, if the lower stories are in breakdown situation, it means that all residents of apartments in this building must also be evacuated. But naturally, nothing similar will happen. We are just forced to move from the territory we have rented and have prepaid till December 1, 2007. And still it is unknown if we will be able to receive back our money. And we also do not know if we will be able to launch publication of our newspaper," Chobanoglu said. Editor of Gundalik Azerbaijan Uzeir Djafarov is going to ask for political asylum abroad as a sign of protest against the attack on him, which took place in the evening of April 20, and actions towards his newspaper. Stressing that under the current situation it is impossible to work and live in Azerbaijan, Djafarov added he is ready to return the country as soon as the situation normalizes. Djafarov informed he wants to ask for asylum in Canada, Norway, Austria and Finland and is going to turn to diplomatic mission of those countries tomorrow. He said, five more Gundalik Azerbaijan workers are going to follow his example.
The verdict went into effect several days ago. All financial means of the newspaper are frozen. The editor-in-chief noted the workers of the "Baky-Kheber" will hold a meeting in near future to make decision on the further activity of the newspaper. "Azerbaijan" publishing house also demands from "Baky-Kheber" to pay debts, which creates difficulties for activities of the newspaper.
Most recently Azeri opposition newspapers "Real Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan were forced to move from the building they occupied. Ministry of Emergency Situations initiated that move, Chief editor of "Gundalik Azerbaijan" newspaper Shahveled Chobanoglu informed.
"Representatives of the ministry say that the lower stories of this newly-built building are in breakdown situation and need repair. Following the logic, if the lower stories are in breakdown situation, it means that all residents of apartments in this building must also be evacuated. But naturally, nothing similar will happen. We are just forced to move from the territory we have rented and have prepaid till December 1, 2007. And still it is unknown if we will be able to receive back our money. And we also do not know if we will be able to launch publication of our newspaper," Chobanoglu said. Editor of Gundalik Azerbaijan Uzeir Djafarov is going to ask for political asylum abroad as a sign of protest against the attack on him, which took place in the evening of April 20, and actions towards his newspaper. Stressing that under the current situation it is impossible to work and live in Azerbaijan, Djafarov added he is ready to return the country as soon as the situation normalizes. Djafarov informed he wants to ask for asylum in Canada, Norway, Austria and Finland and is going to turn to diplomatic mission of those countries tomorrow. He said, five more Gundalik Azerbaijan workers are going to follow his example.
