Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAKU1353
2007-11-09 12:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
EDITOR OF ONE OF AZERBAIJAN'S LEAST REPUTABLE
how-toVZCZCXRO2955 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHKB #1353 3131245 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091245Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4219 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0725
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001353
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: EDITOR OF ONE OF AZERBAIJAN'S LEAST REPUTABLE
NEWSPAPERS SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DONALD LU PER 1.4(B,D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001353
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: EDITOR OF ONE OF AZERBAIJAN'S LEAST REPUTABLE
NEWSPAPERS SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DONALD LU PER 1.4(B,D).
1. (SBU) On November 6, Editor-In-Chief of Ideal newspaper
Nazim Guliyev was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment on
libel charges. Ideal newspaper is known as one of
Azerbaijan's least reputable newspapers, as Guliyev is widely
believed to accept bribes to slander opposition figures,
other journalists, and government officials - but never
President Aliyev. He also is rumored to have backing from
pro-Kurdish GOAJ officials. This suit was filed by Ministry
of Internal Affairs Police Department Head Ramiz Zeynalov, on
the basis of recent articles criticizing corruption among
traffic police, which Guliyev published, but did not author.
Guliyev previously served 30 months in prison after being
convicted of extortion in 2002; he was released by
Presidential pardon.
2. (C) The Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS)
issued a public statement noting that the articles in
question violated the journalistic code of ethics, and that
Ideal newspaper had done so many times before. However, IRFS
maintained its position that journalists should not be
imprisoned for their work, and called for the GOAJ to release
Guliyev and the seven other imprisoned journalists. IRFS
Director Emin Huseynov told us that he has received criticism
from some NGO activists and journalists for choosing to
include Guliyev's case in IRFS' statements.
3. (C) COMMENT: In many ways, Guliyev's case is
representative of the problems plaguing Azerbaijan's media
environment. There are publications - Ideal being one of the
leading examples - that seem to function as little more than
platforms for Azerbaijan's ruling elite to snipe at their
rivals, and journalists in these papers are widely believed
to accept payments to write and publish libelous stories.
Criminal cases, however, are not the solution. Guliyev's
case highlights the need to decriminalize libel and develop
an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to resolve libel
complaints, as well as to strengthen the professionalism of
journalists. Guliyev's imprisonment brings Azerbaijan's
total number of journalists jailed for their work to eight.
DERSE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: EDITOR OF ONE OF AZERBAIJAN'S LEAST REPUTABLE
NEWSPAPERS SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DONALD LU PER 1.4(B,D).
1. (SBU) On November 6, Editor-In-Chief of Ideal newspaper
Nazim Guliyev was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment on
libel charges. Ideal newspaper is known as one of
Azerbaijan's least reputable newspapers, as Guliyev is widely
believed to accept bribes to slander opposition figures,
other journalists, and government officials - but never
President Aliyev. He also is rumored to have backing from
pro-Kurdish GOAJ officials. This suit was filed by Ministry
of Internal Affairs Police Department Head Ramiz Zeynalov, on
the basis of recent articles criticizing corruption among
traffic police, which Guliyev published, but did not author.
Guliyev previously served 30 months in prison after being
convicted of extortion in 2002; he was released by
Presidential pardon.
2. (C) The Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS)
issued a public statement noting that the articles in
question violated the journalistic code of ethics, and that
Ideal newspaper had done so many times before. However, IRFS
maintained its position that journalists should not be
imprisoned for their work, and called for the GOAJ to release
Guliyev and the seven other imprisoned journalists. IRFS
Director Emin Huseynov told us that he has received criticism
from some NGO activists and journalists for choosing to
include Guliyev's case in IRFS' statements.
3. (C) COMMENT: In many ways, Guliyev's case is
representative of the problems plaguing Azerbaijan's media
environment. There are publications - Ideal being one of the
leading examples - that seem to function as little more than
platforms for Azerbaijan's ruling elite to snipe at their
rivals, and journalists in these papers are widely believed
to accept payments to write and publish libelous stories.
Criminal cases, however, are not the solution. Guliyev's
case highlights the need to decriminalize libel and develop
an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to resolve libel
complaints, as well as to strengthen the professionalism of
journalists. Guliyev's imprisonment brings Azerbaijan's
total number of journalists jailed for their work to eight.
DERSE