ECtHR finds violation of Azerbaijani journalists’ rights

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled on the complaints of two journalists from Azerbaijan. The Court has found violations of their rights to the freedom of expression and personal inviolability.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 8, 2009, Elnur Mamedov and Idrak Abbasov, employees of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), among other journalists, were covering a police operation conducted in the editorial office of the "Milli Oil" newspaper. Law enforcers took away the filming equipment from the above journalists; and Mamedov was detained.

On July 8, 2021, the ECtHR ruled on Mamedov\s and Abbasov’s complaints.

In relation to Mamedov and Abbasov, the ECtHR recognized violations of the right to the freedom of expression; and in relation to Mamedov, also a violation of his right to liberty and personal inviolability. The ECtHR has awarded Mamedov with 6000 euros, and Abbasov – with 4500 euros. The applicants will receive 1000 euros each to cover their legal costs.

In 2014, the journalist Idrak Abbasov emigrated from Azerbaijan and currently lives in Norway. "It took a long time to restore justice. Unfortunately, since then, the situation with the freedom of expression has not improved in Azerbaijan," Mr Abbasov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 8, 2021 at 08:31 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.