12:43, 8 December 2003

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media urges Azerbaijan authorities to set Rauf Arifoglu free

On December 4, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Freimut Duve addressed a special letter to Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev in which he expressed concern about the case of editor-in-chief of the Yeni Musavat newspaper Rauf Arifoglu. It is indicated in the letter that the editor has been imprisoned though his role in the mass riots in Baku is under investigation as yet. At the same time, interrogations and investigative actions in respect of him are not taken.

The OSCE representative urged the Azerbaijan authorities to set Mr. Arifoglu free for the investigation period.

Rauf Arifoglu's lawyer Samed Panakhov gave a high evaluation to Mr. Duve's statement.

Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party Siyavush Novruzov, in his turn, took the OSCE representative's suggestion very critically. According to Mr. Novruzov, the law-enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan "know what they do", and they will carry this case "to its logical conclusion".

Source: Echo (Azerbaijan)