Published: 2 June 2011
Region: Azerbaijan & Worldwide
The Media Diversity Institute welcomes the news that the Azerbaijani editor and journalist Eynulla Fatullayev has been released after four years in prison.
In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that Fatullayev should be released, a call that was ignored by the Azerbaijani Government until recently, when he was released ahead of Azerbaijan’s Independence Day on 28 May.
It is widely believed that charges against Fatullayev were politically motivated, and that he has been imprisoned for expressing critical views that the government of Azerbaijan tried to suppress.
Fatullyev has spoken on the phone to campaigners and journalists from his parents’ home in Baku, saying he is “optimistic” about the future.
As a member of the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan, the Media Diversity Institute participated in protests and joint efforts pushing for Fatullayev’s release in previous years.
Many civil rights activists have expressed the view that the release of Fatullayev marks the start of a new trend in Azerbaijan’s government. This could be due to the inevitable increase in international scrutiny when the country – which won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest – hosts next year’s event, as the competition’s rules require.
We can only hope that international attention will help President Aliyev understand that he needs to release all political prisoners, journalists, youth and opposition activists imprisoned in Azerbaijan.
Since January 2011, the list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has grown by 26 names, including those of the banned Islamic Party’s leaders, and youth and opposition activists and bloggers.
Related articles:
- “Fifty Fatullayevs” outside London Embassy demanded release of jailed Azerbaijani journalist
- Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Calls for Eynulla Fatullayev’s Release
- International Organisations Condemn Abduction and Beating of Journalist Seymur Khaziyev
- Azerbaijan: Free Expression under Attack
- MDI participates in Freedom of expression mission to Azerbaijan
- TV Talk show on Freedom of Expression produced by MDI Azeri trainees