26 April 2019, 10:15
IRFS accuses Azerbaijani authorities of pressing journalist
Azerbaijani special services are tapping the conversations of the journalist Sevindj Osmangyzy, the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) has stated after a record of her private conversation appeared on a pro-government TV channel. By breaking into the privacy of oppositional journalists, authorities are trying to silence them, the IRFS has stated.
On April 7, on air of the "Real TV" channel, the programme "Time with Mirshakhin" was broadcast, in which Mirshakhin Agaev, the head of the channel, accused Ms Osmangyzy of betraying national interests. The programme presented an audio record of her conversation with journalist Chingiz Sultansoi, in which Osmangyzy offered him to create the Internet channel "Alternative" and promised to help in obtaining Western grants.
"The IRFS is shocked that pro-government media, including the 'Real TV' channel, controlled by the presidential administration, are involved in attacking the journalist by shamelessly broadcasting the wiretapped Osmangyzy's conversation with another journalist," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports referring the statement of the organization.
"Unfortunately, instead of defending Azerbaijani journalists, the country's special services are breaking into journalists' privacy of through hidden filming and illegal wiretapping, hacking their computers and smartphones, in order to subsequently silence women-critics by blackmailing them," Emin Guseinov, the IRIS Executive Director, has stated as quoted by the IRFS statement.
The IRFS has called on US law enforcement bodies to ensure the protection of Sevindj Osmangyzy, who lives in this country, and conduct an international investigation into the illegal collection of the journalist's personal information.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 26, 2019 at 00:24 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
