Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAKU268
2008-03-19 11:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
UPDATE ON STABBED AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKB #0268 0791130 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191130Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4996 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2719 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0868 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000268
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON STABBED AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST
REF: BAKU 00257
Classified By: Acting DCM Jonathan Henick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000268
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON STABBED AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST
REF: BAKU 00257
Classified By: Acting DCM Jonathan Henick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Agil Khalil, the Azadliq newspaper corespondent who
was stabbed and subsequently hospitalized on March 13
(reftel),reports that his physical condition is improving,
although he remains weak. Acting Azadliq Editor Azer
Ahmedov, speaking on behalf of Khalil, told us that Khalil
left the Clinic Medical Center Hospital on March 18 in part
because the hospital staff was becoming nervous about the
publicity surrounding his case. The Ambassador and other
diplomats visited Khalil on March 14 (reftel),and there was
significant media coverage of these events. According to
Ahmedov, Khalil said harassment from Lider TV - which
reportedly sought to capture him on film and portray him as
healthy - also contributed to his decision to voluntarily
sign himself out of the hospital.
2. (C) According to Ahmedov, Khalil remains nervous about
his security after the March 13 stabbing, but needs to stay
in Baku for several more days for the investigation into the
March 13 attack to be completed. The Baku Police Department
has provided two officers to protect Khalil. When the
investigation is finished, Khalil plans on departing Baku and
staying with his parents in Kurdamir, to let tensions cool
down.
3. (C) Ahmedov suggested that the Baku police may not have
aggressively investigated the separate February 22 attack on
him until the March 13 attack. As evidence, Khalil
reportedly said that while he was at the Baku Police
Department regarding the investigation into the March 13
attack, he learned that the police had only recently been
pursuing witnesses to the February 22 attack. Ahmedov
confirmed press reports that Khalil had identified his
assailants in the February 22 attack. According to press
reports, one of the alleged assailants, Daghbayi
Allahverdiyev, is rumored to have close links to the Ministry
of National Security. The name of the second alleged
assailant has not been released to the press. He is rumored
to have left Azerbaijan in order to avoid arrest.
4. (C) The Embassy has reached out to Baku City Police Chief
Rafiq Abbasov to express our concern and push for an
aggressive investigation into both attacks. The Ambassador
is also trying to reach Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz
Mehdiyev to encourage a timely investigation. We continue to
monitor the case.
DERSE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON STABBED AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST
REF: BAKU 00257
Classified By: Acting DCM Jonathan Henick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Agil Khalil, the Azadliq newspaper corespondent who
was stabbed and subsequently hospitalized on March 13
(reftel),reports that his physical condition is improving,
although he remains weak. Acting Azadliq Editor Azer
Ahmedov, speaking on behalf of Khalil, told us that Khalil
left the Clinic Medical Center Hospital on March 18 in part
because the hospital staff was becoming nervous about the
publicity surrounding his case. The Ambassador and other
diplomats visited Khalil on March 14 (reftel),and there was
significant media coverage of these events. According to
Ahmedov, Khalil said harassment from Lider TV - which
reportedly sought to capture him on film and portray him as
healthy - also contributed to his decision to voluntarily
sign himself out of the hospital.
2. (C) According to Ahmedov, Khalil remains nervous about
his security after the March 13 stabbing, but needs to stay
in Baku for several more days for the investigation into the
March 13 attack to be completed. The Baku Police Department
has provided two officers to protect Khalil. When the
investigation is finished, Khalil plans on departing Baku and
staying with his parents in Kurdamir, to let tensions cool
down.
3. (C) Ahmedov suggested that the Baku police may not have
aggressively investigated the separate February 22 attack on
him until the March 13 attack. As evidence, Khalil
reportedly said that while he was at the Baku Police
Department regarding the investigation into the March 13
attack, he learned that the police had only recently been
pursuing witnesses to the February 22 attack. Ahmedov
confirmed press reports that Khalil had identified his
assailants in the February 22 attack. According to press
reports, one of the alleged assailants, Daghbayi
Allahverdiyev, is rumored to have close links to the Ministry
of National Security. The name of the second alleged
assailant has not been released to the press. He is rumored
to have left Azerbaijan in order to avoid arrest.
4. (C) The Embassy has reached out to Baku City Police Chief
Rafiq Abbasov to express our concern and push for an
aggressive investigation into both attacks. The Ambassador
is also trying to reach Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz
Mehdiyev to encourage a timely investigation. We continue to
monitor the case.
DERSE