In Azerbaijan, journalists file a complaint to the European Court on Human Rights

A collective complaint has been filed to the European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR) on behalf of 15 Azerbaijani journalists.

As reported in the message of the Institute of Media's Rights (IMR) that has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, the complaint was lodged after the dispersal by the police of journalists' pickets on April 17 and on May 15, 2007, and subsequent violations of their rights by judicial bodies of the country.

The complaint to the ECtHR indicates violation of a series of journalists' rights and freedoms, guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. The defence of journalists' rights in the context of the complaint to the ECtHR will be ensured by Rashid Gadzhily, Director of the IMR, and employees of the Institute Khalid Agaliev and Elchin Sadygov.

Mr Sadygov has explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the collective complaint lists violations of the following journalists' rights and freedoms, guaranteed by the European Convention: right to fair trial (Article 6), freedom of expressions (Article 10), right to assembly and association (Article 11); also, the article was breached dealing with prohibition of torture (Article 3).

Journalists demand recognition of violations of their rights; compensation of expenses suffered in the context of litigations and suffered moral and material losses.