Demonstration of solidarity with Azerbaijan journalists

Some thirty Georgian journalists demonstrated outside the embassy of Azerbaijan on October 20 in solidarity with Azerbaijan journalists and opposition members. Arrests and persecution of independent journalists and opposition politicians is continuing in Baku.

According to one of the protestors, Akakii Gogichaishvili, from the "60 Minutes" program produced by Georgia's independent Rustavi-2 TV station, it is possible that the "Baku scenario" may transfer to Georgia after the parliamentary elections called for November 2. "President Eduard Shevardnadze has already said that measures to protect law and order will be taken on the election day", said Gogichaishvili.

Shakhbaz Aliyev, director of the "Ganun" (Law) publishing house, told us that the repression of independent journalists in Azerbaijan has reached a massive scale.

He reported that one of the journalists disappeared without trace four days ago and his whereabouts are unknown, while Einul Tatulayev, who writes for the Azerbaijan "Monitor" magazine, evaded arrest by chance, and is now in hiding. According to Aliyev, two reporters have found asylum in the Norwegian embassy building, but other diplomatic missions are refusing to shelter journalists.

He himself was detained by members of the Azerbaijan security services and released only after several hours.

Journalists report that up to thirty of their colleagues have been severely beaten. The largest independent newspaper, "Yeni Musavat", has ceased publication.