第七届会议
议程项目3
增进和保护所有人权、公民、政治、经济、社会和文化权利,包括发展权
见解和言论自由权问题特别报告员阿姆贝伊·利加博提交的报告
增编
对阿塞拜疆的访问*
* 内容 提要以所有正式语文分发。报告本身载于内容提要附件 , 仅以原文分发。
内容提要
本报告是根据人权委员会第2005/38号决议和人权理事会第1/102号决定编写的。见解和言论自由权问题特别报告员于2007年4月24日至27日访问了阿塞拜疆,本报告介绍并分析他在访问期间从联合国渠道、高级政府官员和政府机构、非政府组织和个人收集到的关于增进和保护见解和言论自由权方面的资料。
阿塞拜疆向来是不同文化和族裔群体交接之处。苏联的解体及继而阿塞拜疆的独立,对努力在建立和巩固民主结构、发展民间社会和确保经济稳步增长的该国来说无疑是一股新的推动力量。
在访问期间,特别报告员会晤了阿塞拜疆伊利哈姆·阿利耶夫总统、国家和政府高级官员、新闻媒介和工会代表以及民间社会成员。他还同代表国际组织的外资团成员和国际组织的高级官员交换了意见。
新闻媒介环境存在的问题不少。根据特别报告员搜集到的资料,现行关于诽谤、文字诽谤和侮辱的法律与当前将相关违法行为非刑罪化的趋势不相符,法庭在对记者和其他新闻媒介专业人员作判决时往往特别严厉,这些人有时成为执法人员压制行为(包括暴力和迫害)的受害者。
尽管如此,特别报告员对他与国家和政府代表的会晤感到鼓舞,希望该国能迅速采取行政措施评定国家政策,尤其是由内政部采取行动。司法部则应复查若干起法院判决,因为这些判决在记者之间广泛引起恐惧感和新闻自我检查,从而限制了他们的编辑自由。迅速对现行新闻媒介立法进行修订,使其与国际标准完全一致,是向前迈进的第一步。
此外,由于种种原因,该国的通信市场似乎严重发展不足。在区域一级,邻国已有大型媒介公司的事实不利于吸引新的资金投入,而新的投资则是加强新闻媒介的代表性和能力所不可或缺。没有增加足够的经济资源,是不可能提高新闻媒介代表的专业能力的,尤其是关于人权和职业道德的培训。
Annex
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expressio n, Ambeyi Ligab o , on his mission to Azerbaijan ( 24 to 27 April 2007 )
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
I. INTRODUCTION 1 - 7 4
II. BACKGROUND 8 - 12 5
III. HUMAN RIGHTS LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 13 - 26 6
IV. SITUATION OF THE MEDIA IN AZERBAIJAN 27 - 59 10
A. General overview 27 - 39 10
B. Defamation 40 - 49 1 3
C. Violence against media professionals 50 - 59 1 6
V. CONCLUSIONS 60 - 69 1 8
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS 70 - 79 20
AnnexList of participants in the meetings......................................... 2 3
I. Introduction
1. The present document is a full report of the mission of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expressio n, Ambeyi Ligab o , to Azerbaija n, made from 24 to 27 April 2007 at the invitation of the Government. The document contains information and opinions from various source s, received by the Special Rapporteur prior t o, during and following his visit to the country.
2. The contents of the present document refer to the situation prevailing in Azerbaijan at the time of the Special Rapporteur’s visit. The Special Rapporteur reiterates that his mandate does not concern exclusively the right to the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression of the medi a, but also all forms of opinion and expression as exercised by citizen s, groups and associations regarding civi l, politica l, socia l, economic and cultural matters.
3. The Special Rapporteur would like to mention tha t, in the preparation of his mission and his repor t, he consulted material from United Nations source s, particularly the concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee ( CCPR / CO / 73 / AZE ) of November 2001 adopted upon the consideration of the initial report submitted by Azerbaijan ; the concluding observations of the Committee on Economi c, Social and Cultural Rights ( E / C.12 / 1 / Add.104 ) of December 2004 ; and those of the Committee against Torture ( CAT / C / CR / 30 / 1 ) of May 200 3. The Special Rapporteur also took note of the core document for use by the treaty bodies ( HRI / CORE / 1 / Add.117 ) of 27 February 200 2, submitted by the Government of Azerbaijan.
4. During his visi t, the Special Rapporteur met with the President of Azerbaija n, Ilham Aliye v , with senior State and Government official s, as well as with representatives of the medi a, trade union s, non-governmental organizations working in the field of human rights and members of civil society. He also had an exchange of views with members of the diplomatic corps and senior officials of international organizations.
5. During his visi t, the Special Rapporteur attended a meeting entitled “Role of the media in the development of tolerance and mutual understanding” , organized by the Organization of the Islamic Conferenc e, on 28 Apri l, in Baku. In his addres s, the Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the audience a number of issues he considered crucial for the development of harmoniou s, multicultural societies in which the right to free speech and editorial freedom are guaranteed.
6. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR ) maintains a presence in Azerbaijan in the framework of its “Regional Office for South Caucasus” project under the supervision of a senior human rights adviser based in Tbilisi. Its main activities include advisory support for Governments through training sessions and technical advic e, in particular in the area of the administration of justic e, freedom of expression and vulnerable group s, with an aim to strengthening national and local capacities to translate obligations under international human rights instruments into effective law s, regulations and policies. Furthermor e, OHCHR focuses on increasing the awareness and understanding of recommendations and concluding observations of treaty bodies and special procedure mechanisms through training activities on the effective implementation of recommendations. It conducts human rights education programmes and disseminates OHCHR material in local and United Nations official languages. Another key priority is the engagement of United Nations country teams in the region to incorporate human rights-based approaches in their policy and programming work.
7. The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank the Government of Azerbaijan for its opennes s, which allowed him to carry out his mission in an effective way. The Special Rapporteur would also like to express his gratitude to all national and international figure s, institution s, members of the medi a, trade union s, non-governmental organizations and individuals with whom he met and had a comprehensive exchange of opinions and information. Moreove r, he wishes to thank the United Nations Office in Azerbaijan for its valuable support and assistance.
II. Background
8. Following its official proclamation of national sovereignty in 198 9, Azerbaijan became independent in October 1991 amidst internal tensions and mounting ethnic strife between Azerbaijanis and Armenian s, which would develop into full-scale war over the Nagorny Karabakh region in 199 2. Heydar Aliyev won the presidential elections in 1993 ; his son Ilham Aliyev became president after a landslide victory in an election held in October 200 3. The country’s first Parliamen t, elected in 199 5, replaced the temporary Melli-Majlis legislative rule.
9. Since independenc e, the main sources of instability have been the domestic political situation and the conflict over the Nagorny Karabakh region. While the political situation appears more stable nowaday s, a solution of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict is still pending in spite of long-running and continuing efforts to find a lasting peace and a future for almost one million internally displaced Azerbaijanis. The country is suffering from a number of problems typical of democracies in transitio n, such as the low level of implementation of judicial reforms with a view to promote the rule of law and human rights. Rapid economic developmen t, linked to oil resource s, needs to be consolidated through reinvestment in economi c, social and cultural fields in order to develop a fully thriving society.
1 0. It is worth noting that both the 2003 presidential elections and the 2005 parliamentary elections raised concerns at the international level regarding their fairness and impartiality. The ruling party of President Aliye v , the Yeni Azerbaijan Part y, held the majority in the electoral commissions and was strongly sponsored through State medi a, while the time allotted to opposition parties was reportedly inferior. The parliamentary elections of November 2005 saw some improvements : a decree by President Aliyev in May 200 5, calling for a democratic electoral process exempt from unlawful political interferenc e, was welcomed by the international community as a step towards free and impartial elections. Nonetheles s, mismanagement of voters’ card s, the arrests of several opposition members and bans on demonstrations before the electoral round showed that Azerbaijan did not meet the requirements in the organization of free and democratic elections.
1 1. Furthermor e, in 200 5, the atmosphere in the national media was particularly tense owing to the killin g, in Marc h, of one of the most prominent journalists in the countr y, Elmar Huseyno v , who was shot dead close by his apartment in Baku. Mr. Huseynov was renowned for a number of inquiries published by his magazin e, Monito r, which shut down after his murder. Despite international pressure to find a satisfactory outcome to the inquiry into Mr. Huseynov’s murde r, circumstances surrounding that crime remain unclear.
1 2. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges the significant role played by the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ) , whose report of July 2005 on his visit to Azerbaijan contained an excellent analysis of the shortcomings in the exercise of media freedo m, as well as a number of valuable recommendation s, which need further attention from relevant national authorities.
III. Human Rights Legal and Institutional Framework
1 3. The Constitution of Azerbaijan came into force on 27 November 199 5. It created a presidential republic with separation of powers among the legislativ e, executive and judicial branche s, providing a legal basis for the domestic implementation of international law in general and international human rights law in particular. International treaties were recognized as a constituent part of the internal legal system and given a higher hierarchical status in the event of conflict with a national law ( art. 151 ) . Article 12 ( II ) of the Constitution empowers domestic courts to apply international human rights treaties to which Azerbaijan is part y, an engagement that needs to be corroborated and developed by a vast judicial practic e, particularly by the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court. The natural limitation to the application of international law is that it may not contravene the Constitution and laws adopted by referendum ( art. 151 ) .
1 4. The Constitution of Azerbaijan guarantees a broad range of politica l, civi l, socia l, economic and cultural right s, as well as the rights of national minorities. It guarantees freedom of speech and of the pres s, and specifically bars media censorshi p, a matter that is also subject to article 7 of the Law on Mass Media. Of specific relevance are :
Article 4 7, Freedom of Thought and Speec h, which states that everyone may enjoy freedom of thought and speech ; nobody should be forced to promulgate his or her thoughts and convictions or to renounce his or her thoughts and convictions ; propaganda provoking racia l, nationa l, religious and social discord and animosity is prohibited ;
Article 4 8, Freedom of Conscienc e, which states that everyone enjoys freedom of conscience ; everyone has the right to define his or her attitude to religio n, to profes s, individually or together with other s, any religion or to profess no religio n, to express and spread one’s beliefs concerning religion ; everyone is free to carry out religious ritual s, however this should not violate public order and contradict public morals ; religious beliefs and convictions do not excuse infringement of the law ;
Article 4 9, Freedom of Gathering s, which states that everyone has the right to meetings ; everyone has the righ t, having notified respective governmental bodies in advanc e, peacefully and without arm s, to meet with other peopl e, organize meeting s, demonstration s, processions and place pickets ;
Article 5 0, Freedom of Informatio n, which states that e veryone is free to see k, acquir e, transfe r, prepare and distribute information ; freedom of mass media is guaranteed ; State censorship in mass medi a, including the pres s, is prohibited.
1 5. The Law on Mass Medi a, adopted on 7 December 1999 and signed into effect by the President on 8 February 200 0, includes general rules for the preparatio n, production and dissemination of mass information within the countr y, and sets ground rules for the activities of the pres s, news agencies and television and radio enterprises. While article 1 declares that mass information is free and that the State is engaged in ensuring that citizens can enjoy the right to free informatio n, article 5 defines the legislative safeguards of the information spher e, namely the Constitution and other instruments in addition to the Law on Mass Media and other appropriate acts. Article 7 prohibits censorship ; article 8 defines mass media prerogative s, including a number of provisions regulating the right of journalists to receive information. Article 14 states that no prior agreement is required when requesting permission for printing or broadcasting. Lastl y, article 59 forbids any interference by national bodies and institution s, private and public associations in the right to seek and distribute information.
1 6. The Law on Mass Media also includes provision s, such as article 1 0, which limit media freedom through the enumeration of a number of issues that cannot be properly investigated by media professionals. By doing s o, media professionals could automatically be accused of violating the La w, especially when dealing with information involving broad concepts such as attempts on the integrity of the State or humiliating the honour and dignity of citizen s, which can have a broad legal application. While the Law has been seen as an improvemen t, it is widely thought that it still does not meet accepted international standards and that it should be re ‑examined and amended and its implementation reinforced. Likewis e, article 11 prohibits the publication of information in the following cases : ( a ) information provided to a journalist on the condition of confidentiality ; ( b ) information allowing the source of the information to be identified if the informant has stipulated that he or she should not be identified ; ( c ) preliminary investigations and inquiry secret s, without the permission of the investigato r, prosecutor or the person conducting the inquiry ; ( d ) information about the identity of a minor accused of committing a crim e, without his or her permission or without the permission of his or her legal representative. Moreove r, under this articl e, a journalist ma y, by court rulin g, be compelled to reveal his or her sources in order to : ( a ) protect human life ; ( b ) prevent a serious crime ; ( c ) protect a person accused of committing a serious crime. Lastl y, it is interesting to note that the provisions of the Law on Mass Media are also applicable to Internet media companie s, professionals and bloggers.
1 7. The Statute on Television and Radio Broadcasting was adopted in June 2002 with the aim of providing a framework for the activities of Stat e, public servic e, municipal and private broadcasting. In article 9 of that la w, general principles concerning the functioning of a public service broadcaster are laid dow n, a matter that will be dealt with in a subsequent la w, as explained in another part of the present report. In October 200 2, President Aliyev also signed a decree on the creation of a national television and radio counci l, a body responsible fo r, inter ali a, the issuance of broadcasting licences to television and radio channel s, the monitoring of their activity and the protection of the interests of the audience. Six of its nine members were to be appointed by the President of Azerbaijan.
1 8. On 24 August 200 2, an attempt was made to amen d, by Presidential Decre e, the 1998 Law on State Secret s, in order to strengthen provisions requiring journalists to submit articles containing information on State secrets to a commission for review prior to publicatio n, and requiring them to disclose their sources in such cases. Journalists protested and foreign embassies and international organizations also expressed concerns. In September 200 2, the Government amended the law so that it no longer required journalists to reveal their sources.
1 9. The Law on Public Television and Radio Broadcasting was adopted by the Parliament on 11 September 2004 and endorsed by the President on 29 September. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that a number of international expert s, including representatives of OSC E, the Council of Europe and local organization s, participated in its drafting. The Government further emphasized that according to findings of a monitoring study conducted by the British Broadcasting Counci l, public television was in line with the relevant international standard s, particularly the principles of transparency and independence.
2 0. The Law on Public Television and Radio Broadcasting was widely criticized by various interlocutors of the Special Rapporteur with regard to the creation of an independent public service and the control the Government could in principle exercise over it. In particula r, the law was criticized for failing to create a clear mechanism for the transformation of a State into public service broadcaster and hamperin g, in article 2 1, the independence of the Broadcasting Counci l, as its appointment would fall under the President’s prerogatives. Furthermor e, the law did not specify who would actually govern the public broadcaste r, given that the role of Director General of the management board appears severely diminished by the provisions contained in article 2 5.3. Article 29 also raised much controvers y, as it states that the legal supervision of activities of the public broadcaster are to be exercised by the relevant State authorit y, which can be interpreted in various way s, including political interference.
2 1. Through the Law on the Acquisition of Informatio n, adopted in 200 5, a citizen can have access to or demand information from governmental bodies. Article 40 of the law defines a classification period for official and personal informatio n, respectively of 5 and 75 years. Freedom of information is further regulated under article 3. 6 of the Constitutional Law on Regulating the Exercise of Human Rights and Freedom s, which requires the intervention of Parliament with an appropriate legislative mechanism. In particula r, article 284 of the Criminal Code envisages criminal sanctions for the disclosure of State secret s, while article 18 9.0. 1 of the Code of Administrative Offences provides for sanctions on journalists for disclosing informatio n, such as State secret s, information about private life and sensitive commercial informatio n, if such disclosure is prohibited by law.
2 2. The Law on the Acquisition of Informatio n, adopted in 199 8, seems to widen the scope of the Law on Informatio n, Information Technology and Protection of Information. The Law could be considered a firs t, raw attempt at legislating on the quick progress of an information society based on new technological tools.
2 3. The Office of the Human Rights Commissioner ( ombudsperson ) of Azerbaijan was established in 200 1. According to article 2. 1 of the Constitutional Law of 28 December 2001 establishing that Offic e, the Commissioner is to be elected by an 83 ‑vote majority of the 125 ‑member Parliament ( Milli Mejlis ) from three candidates nominated by the President of the Republic. The elected commissione r, who has a non ‑renewable mandate of seven year s, holds ample powers and prerogatives ‑ with the exception of investigations into the executiv e, the legislative and the judicial authorities ‑ especially in the submission of motions for pardon and amnest y, and in examining complaints concerning the administration of justice.
2 4. Elmira Suleimanov a , who was elected first commissioner in July 200 2, stated that her Office was focusing on legislative reforms of economi c, social and cultural right s, and on compliance of national legislation with international standards in the framework of a national plan on human rights. The Offic e, within its ample mandat e, also possesses a system of complaint s, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitutional La w, that deals with cases submitted by various categories of complainant s, from asylum ‑seekers to media professionals. Her Offic e, Ms. Suleimanova adde d, had been campaignin g, in partnership with its main counterpar t, the Ministry of Internal Affair s, against daily violenc e, including violent behaviour of law enforcement officials.
2 5. In November 200 1, when examining the second report of Azerbaijan on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right s, the United Nations Human Rights Committe e, in its concluding observation s, expressed its concern at reported obstacles imposed on the registration and free operation of non ‑governmental human rights organizations and political parties. The Committee urged the State party to take all necessary steps to allow national non ‑governmental organizations to function without hindrance. With regard to political partie s, the Committee urged the State party to take all necessary measures to ensure that registration was not used to silence political movements opposed to the Government and to limit the rights of association guaranteed by the Covenant.
2 6. In May 200 3, the Committee against Torture recommende d, inter ali a, that the State party ensure : the independence of the judiciar y, in accordance with the basic principles on the independence of the judiciary ; the prompt creation of a new bar association and take measures to guarantee an adequate number of qualified and independent lawyers are able to act in criminal cases ; the full independence of the ombudsman ; the full protection of non ‑governmental human rights defenders and organizations.
IV. situation of the media in Azerbaijan
A. General overview
2 7. The creation of the Press Council on 15 March 200 3, at the first congress of Azerbaijani journalist s, represented a step forward in the reinforcement of media freedom in Azerbaijan. The Council was set up as a body to perform regulatory functions between the media and societ y, engaging in close cooperation with the authorities as a means to solve media ‑related problems.
2 8. Nonetheles s, the birth of the Council was marred by vivid polemics among the journalists themselves : a part of the category ( representing six publications : Hurriye t , Novoe Vremy a , Jumhurriye t , Vete n , Uch Nogte and Ganun ) boycotted the even t, accusing the Government of being behind the election of the Council’s members ; the Government strenuously denied any involvemen t, pointing out that the creation of the Press Council was a positive step forward for freedom of expression in Azerbaijan. The Council mainly serves to solve conflicts between the media and individuals and private companie s, monitors publications and implements the provisions of the journalists’ code of ethic s, elaborated and adopted by the Press Council itsel f, and are aimed at helping journalists to be more impartial and more aware of their important function in the society at large.
2 9. According to its chairman Aflatun Amaso v , the Council receives on average 800 complaints a yea r, 100 of which are related to the impossibility of obtaining information from primary sources and to the refusal of admission to journalists to various events. In order to facilitate the exchange of information between independent media and State press department s, the Council has called for the establishment of unified regulations for all State ‑run press services and for the improvement of the quality of the information provide d, a suggestion endorsed by the Government. Despite its crucial rol e, the Council operates in very difficult economic conditions and the payment of its employees’ salaries is apparently ensured by a private foreign fund.
3 0. One initiative of the Press Counci l, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affair s, was the creation of a “press vest” that media professionals are required to wear during demonstrations in order to make sure that they can be distinguished from ordinary demonstrator s, especially if the event turns violent. This initiative came as a result of complaints of some 70 journalists to the Press Council of mistreatment by police after the elections in 200 3. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has distributed the vests to the Press Council and to media worker s, but it is not clear whether there is a record of the number of vests and to whom they correspond. Howeve r, the Special Rapporteur was provided evidence that media professionals were treated violently even when they wore the vest.
3 1. The Press Council came under criticism for its inactivity and for failing to create a bridge between the Government and the medi a, being thus unable to settle conflicts between authorities and journalists. Generally speakin g, journalists found little support from the Press Counci l, which was considered not very active and too acquiescent with State institutions. Beyond the continuing phenomenon of violence against journalist s, the Council was unable to intervene in the case of the eviction of an opposition newspaper from a Government building in late 200 6. The Council Chairman stated that it was unconditionally against any abuse and violence against media professional s, whose independence was linked to economic factors. He also pointed out tha t, besides the Counci l, some other 50 journalist unions existed in the country.
3 2. According to information received from the Government after the missio n, in 200 7, the Press Council was provided with premises in a central part of the cit y, as well as the necessary equipment and means of functioning. The Government was also responsible for securing the salaries of the management and technical personnel of the Council.
3 3. The Press Council expressed great concern at the state of the financial situation of the media at large. The Council considered that large investments by private companies and State subsidies for the media from all political orientations were two complex yet indispensable developments to guarantee the survival of the media in the countr y, while initiatives to increase the supply of advertising and its exemption from taxes were two parallel steps that the Government could take in order to make the media environment more palatable to private investors.
3 4. In their meeting with the mission delegatio n, several journalists and editors expressed their dismay at the ongoing atmosphere of intimidation and violence towards the media and the high number of defamation trials against media representatives. With regard to the forme r, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was criticized for failing to solve the most serious cases of recent years and for lacking control over demonstration s, in which media professionals and protesters were beaten and abused by the police. Furthermor e, it was stated that acts of violence could also be committed against journalists traditionally regarded as close to the Government whenever they interfere with major business interests. In relation to television broadcastin g, media representatives criticized the strict application of rules for obtaining broadcasting licences and that the advertising market appeared to be in the hands of the Government. Lastl y, journalists and editors remarked tha t, in spite of the country’s impressive economic growt h, the information market was depressed owing to the lack of financial investments and the consequent low revenues of professional s, another element that was seriously jeopardizing the independence of the media and the degree of pluralism. It was added that the press was at a great disadvantage ; even the relatively low price of daily newspapers was a prohibitive expense for most Azerbaijani s, who increasingly rely on television and radio as their primary sources of news and informatio n, while the biggest newspaper had a circulation of only 1 5, 000 copies. It was noted tha t, in order to surviv e, newspapers have to find powerful sponsors and align themselves with political partie s, thus sacrificing their editorial independence. Despite these constraint s, about 600 newspapers are registered in Azerbaijan ; nearly 100 are published at least once a month. Moreove r, recent statistical data provided by the Government certify the registration of 2, 678 mass ‑media outlets throughout the country.
3 5. Other journalists stated that the country’s media panorama was rapidly evolving together with an adequate body of law s, although a change in the behaviour of law enforcement agencie s, in particular at lower levels of authorit y, could take longer. The Director General of the public television channel IT V, which commenced broadcasting on 29 August 200 5, explained that the very articulated political scene puts great pressure on independent journalism because it was objectively difficult to satisfy all requests made by some 53 political parties. In his opinio n, ITV managed to maintain good relations with governmental parties and opposition force s, but complaints from both sides about alleged partialit y, often amplified by the opposition medi a, were numerous. In such a contex t, ITV preferred to give priority to professional standards and the development of contacts with foreign broadcasting companie s, which have provided technical and substantive assistanc e, such as free access to some of their archives.
3 6. Government representatives also underlined that they regarded the defence of the freedom of expression as a priority and that many journalists in conflict with the Government and law enforcement agencies were not politically independent because they worked in opposition partie s, often with important roles. Allegations of violations of freedom of expression were used as a political tool in the framework of larger political strategies. In their opinio n, the influence of political parties was clearly reflected by the financial resources invested in a number of newspaper s, which could not survive on their income alone. The enlargement of the communications marke t, economically solid investors and adequate training for journalists could greatly help to improve media freedom. Other governmental sources added that President Aliyev had intervened in favour of the press by means of an executive order on paying off newspaper debts to publishing house s, issued on 8 February 200 6. Pursuant to that orde r, debts of newspaper s, including leading opposition newspaper s, amounting to $45 0, 000 were paid by the State budget.
3 7. The Special Rapporteur also received information concerning the initiative of some 20 Azerbaijan journalist s, mainly working for Gundalik Azarbaycan and Realnyy Azerbaydzha n , who decided to seek political asylum in various West European countries at the end of May 200 7, on the grounds of lack of security to carry out their professional activities and of the persecution by State authorities. The offices of the two newspapers were closed for alleged fire ‑safety violations before the owner of the building decide d, on 26 May 200 7, to rescind the lease with immediate effect. The journalists also protested about the arrest of Gundalik Azarbaycan founder Eynulla Fatullayev and the attack against the newspaper edito r, Uzeyir Jafarov ( see paragraph 43 below ) .
3 8. At the time of writin g, in Azerbaija n, there were 7 nationa l, 12 regional and 11 cable television channels. Two foreign television channels and five radio stations also operate in the country. In spite of the existence of adequate legislative provision s, no new licences were issued to private television channels until 200 5, and the privatization of the State broadcasting company AzTV Channel 2 ( now known as ITV ) left AzTV Channel 1 under governmental control. With regard to the pres s, around 100 outlets had regular publications. According to information received from the Governmen t, they had an overall circulation of some 40 million copies per year. Regarding the new medi a, Azerbaijan currently counts on some 90 0, 000 Internet users and has 5, 409 registered web domains.
3 9. The mission delegation also met a group of female journalists and academic s, who felt tha t, despite the increasing number of women working in the information marke t, their role was severely underestimated and relegated to marginal post s, most often in opposition papers. More integration and a general upgrading of women’s role s, also in the academic environmen t, were expected.
B. Defamation
4 0. One of the main factors that restricts the freedom of the press and which shows the extent of hostility towards the medi a, especially towards those linked to opposition partie s, is the use of criminal libel suits by government officials. Articles on cases of alleged corruption and other material critical of official misconduct often fall under articles 147 ( “Slander” ) and 148 ( “Insult” ) of the Criminal Code. Citizens convicted following the application of these articles can be sentenced to both the payment of heavy fines and prison terms. Following consideratio n, in November 200 1, of the second report of Azerbaijan on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right s, the United Nations Human Rights Committee expressed its concern at the extensive limitations on the right to freedom of expression of the media. While noting the explanations given by the delegation with regard to that issu e, the Committee remained concerned at reports of harassment and criminal libel suits used to silence journalists critical of the Government or public official s, as well as the closure of print media outlets and the imposition of heavy fine s, aimed at undermining freedom of expression.
4 1. Many media professionals expressed their concern at the current legislation on defamation and the extensive use of jail sentences by the judiciar y, which had a chilling effect on media freedom at large. When meeting with the mission delegatio n, a number of journalists stated that they had been sentenced to long prison terms or to paying heavy fines at the end of defamation trials.
4 2. In the wake of the killin g, in March 200 5, of journalist Elmar Huseyno v , who had often been on trial on defamation charge s, President Aliyev called on government officials to not file lawsuits against the medi a, establishing a de facto moratorium on libel cases. Unfortunatel y, the moratorium was never made law and President Aliyev has apparently been the only government official to respect the moratorium. In 200 6, several publications were still the target of criminal defamation suits by government officials and other prominent figures. It has been reported tha t, in 200 6, the newspaper Azadliq was fined approximately $30 0, 000 on charges of libel and of having insulted the reputation and dignity of government officials a dozen time s, while a number of journalists served prison sentences. Shahin Agabayl i , editor ‑in ‑chief of Milli Yo l , was imprisoned and subsequently pardoned by President Aliyev ; Serdar Alibeyl i , whom the Special Rapporteur me t, and Faramaz Novruzogl u , editor ‑in ‑chief and reporter of the weekly Nota Ben e , were respectively sentenced to 18 months and two years on charges of defamation of the Minister for Internal Affairs. Samir Sadagatogl u , editor of the weekly Sana t , was arrested for publishing an article on Islam in November 2006 and detained for three months.
4 3. More recent cases of journalists convicted on charges of defamation regard Eynulla Fatullaye v , founder and editor of Gundalik Azarbaycan and Realnyy Azerbaydzha n , and Rovshan Kebirli and Yashan Agazadeh of the newspaper Muhalifet . On 20 April 200 7, Fatullayev was sentenced to two and half years in prison for an article on a websit e, in which he criticized Azerbaijani authorities and the army in connection with the massacre of Khojaly in February 199 2, alleging that they had failed to protect Khojaly residents from the attack of Armenian forces. Fatullayev denied posting the article and stated that his trial was linked to another article he had published in 2005 in Monito r, the newspaper of the late Elmar Huseynov . For the same inciden t, Fatullayev was also fined approximately $1 2, 00 0, in a civil suit brought against him by the Azerbaijan Centre for Refugees and Displaced Persons. Furthermor e, the premises of Gundalik Azarbaycan and Realnyy Azerbaydzhan were closed down by the authorities on 22 May. It is worth noting that Mr. Fatullayev’s deput y, Uzeir Jafaro v , was assaulted and seriously injured by unknown individuals a few hours after he had testified in favour of Mr. Fatullayev . It should be recalled tha t, in autumn 200 6, Mr. Fatullayev’s father was kidnapped and released after his son temporarily stopped his publications.
4 4. On 16 May 200 7, Rovshan Kebirli and Yashar Agazadeh were sentenced to two and half years in prison for defaming a relative of President Aliyev wh o, in their opinio n, had exploited family connections for his business activities. The Special Rapporteur asked the Azerbaijani authorities to reconsider these two cases and to release Fatullaye v , Kebirli and Agazadeh immediately.
4 5. On 4 May 200 6, Sanat reporter Rafik Taghi and editor Samir Sadatoglu were sentence d, under article 28 3. 1 of the Criminal Cod e, to three and four years of prison respectively on charges by the office of the General Prosecutor for “inciting racia l, national and religious hatred”. In 200 6, Sanat published an article containing a comparison of religious values and their modernity. The proceedings of their trial were biased by the presence in the Court of numerous religious activists who threatened the defendants and their colleagues covering the event. Nonetheles s, on 6 July 200 7, the Appellate Court of Baku decided to uphold the original verdict.
4 6. The Special Rapporteur regrets to note tha t, at the time of writin g, a number of media professionals were being detaine d, mainly following defamation trials. The case of Sakit Zahidov case is particularly indicative of the prevailing atmosphere in the political debate. Mr. Zahido v , also known as Mirza Saki t , a jo urnalist and satirist for Azadli q , was arrested in June 200 6, on the charge of “possession of illegal narcotics with intent to distribute” , and eventually sentence d, on 4 October 2006 to three years’ imprisonment by a Baku court on the charge of “possession of drugs for the purpose of personal consumption”. Reportedl y, the journalist’s trial fell short of recognized international standards and was marred by several irregularities. Nonetheles s, Mr. Zahidov had his appeal rejected in December 2006 and was transferred to the prison facility at Qobusta n , notorious for its harsh detention conditions. On 23 April 200 7, Mr. Zahidov was transferred to the penitentiary system central hospital in Baku because of serious health problems.
4 7. High ‑ranking officials of the Government denied all allegations of persecution of the media. They affirmed that the systematic use of defamation and slander was perpetrated by a mere 10 to 15 per cent of journalist s, who were apparently unable to perceive the difference between criticism and insults. The head of the presidential executive staf f, Ramiz Mehdiye v , stated that he believed that the articles of the Criminal Code on liability for insulting someone’s honour and dignity and for libel should remain in force for the time being. He also stated that media issues were too often politicize d, while the real point was to understand to what extent media professionals intended respecting national laws. The same concepts were reiterated by Ali Hasano v , head of the Public and Political Department of the presidential executive staf f, who added that the State protected the independence of the media ; the reaction of international organizations to recent events was not appropriat e, because freedom of expression was not in questio n, but the respect all citizens must pay to national laws. Recalling that censorship had been abolished by article 50 of the Constitutio n, Mr. Hasanov recalled that President Aliyev had often intervened in favour of media professional s, regardless of their political opinion s, through the cancellation of fines and pardons.
4 8. When meeting with the Special Rapporteu r , representatives of the office of the Prosecutor General stated tha t, taking into account the recent history of Azerbaija n, defamation of national symbols and similar offences were very sensitive issues and that the reform of the related articles of the Criminal Code was a complex matte r, at the centre of discussions with international organizations. The recruitment of new judge s, adequately trained with more progressive system s, could inject new blood into the administration of justice.
4 9. According to information sent by the Government after the missio n, the issue of defamation an d, in particula r, the possibility of confining it to civil rather than criminal law was the subject of extensive discussions within the Government and society at large. In particula r, the Government stated that the adoption of such measures was envisaged for the future and that it was already engaged in cooperation with OSC E, the Council of Europe and local non ‑governmental organizations to work on improving public ‑media relations and strengthen media professional standards. The Special Rapporteur noted this information with satisfactio n, emphasizing that the abolishment of criminal defamation procedures against media professionals would be a major step in the direction of securing a free and independent press.
C. Violence against media professionals
5 0. The Special Rapporteur received consistent and detailed information from various sources concerning acts of violenc e, either perpetrated by law enforcement officials or by unknown person s, against journalists and other media workers. This worrying sequence of aggressions against media professionals and the lack of efficient and impartial investigations into them had a chilling effect on the freedom of expression in the country. The ensuing climate of impunity was reinforced by the fact tha t, in most case s, the identity of the assailants remained unknow n, and as a result no one was ultimately brought to justice for these crimes. Als o, cases of beating and harassment of journalists by law enforcement officials were not investigated in a comprehensive manner.
5 1. Violence against journalists seemed to rise during politically sensitive period s, such as election campaigns. This was the case in the period prior to the November 2005 parliamentary election s, though the policy of wearing press jackets was already in place. According to information provided by the Press Counci l, at least 40 journalists were subjected to violence while fulfilling their professional duties in the most recent elections.
5 2. Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the main priority of its action was the fight against new forms of entrenched criminal activitie s, such as drug trafficking. It was acknowledged tha t, occasionall y, police officers resorted to the use of excessive force in dealing with public protest s, however the Ministry was doing its best to modernize law enforcement attitude s, which were a legacy from the times of the Soviet Union. Significant progress had been made in establishing a real collaboration with all media and the phenomenon of mistreatment of journalists was closely monitored.
5 3. Following his meeting with the Minister for Internal Affair s, the Special Rapporteur received a 7-page unsigned and undated document containing names of alleged victims and perpetrators and the precise circumstances of numerous incidents mainly related to the elections of November 2005 from the Ministry. It also contained the results of a revie w, carried out by the Internal Investigations Departmen t, relating to a number of reports of alleged human rights violations by the police. A total of 68 investigation s, mainly linked to cases of alleged violations during the electoral perio d, were conducted in 2005 by the Department. Disciplinary proceedings were consequently brought against seven police officers : one was dismissed from service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs ; one was demoted through the presentation of a “notification on incomplete qualification for the official post” ; two policemen received a severe reprimand ; and the remaining three a reprimand.
5 4. On 9 May 200 7, subsequent to a specific oral request made by government representatives during his visi t, the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan at the United Nations Office in Genev a, in which he mentioned the names of 12 journalists whose human rights appeared to have been severely violated. The Special Rapporteur asked for a prompt re-examination of their judicial cases and the opportunity of financial compensation for those who had suffered permanent physical injury.
5 5. In this contex t, the Special Rapporteur wishes to raise again some of the cases he brought to the attention of the authorities of Azerbaijan and hopes that a positive conclusion can be found as soon as possible. In March 200 5, Elmar Hüseyno v , editor-in-chief of the weekly Monito r, was murdered by unidentified individuals as he was returning home to his apartment building in Baku. The trial of the main suspect in Mr. Hüseynov’s murder could shed light on the circumstances and the motives of this heinous crim e, which are still unclear. Howeve r, in order to ensure the respect of the right to a fair trial and the search for trut h, relevant authorities might consider opening a new investigation.
5 6. On 6 March 200 6, Fikret Hüseynl i , correspondent for Azadli q , whom the Special Rapporteur met personall y, was abducte d, beaten and left unconscious in the outskirts of Baku by unidentified men. Mr. Hüseynli had received hostile phone calls concerning articles he wrote about allegations of corruption of high-ranking officials and other prominent figures in the country. He survived the attac k, but his physical condition is precarious and investigations into his case have brought no results.
5 7. On 18 May 200 6, Baxaddin Xaziye v , deputy chairman of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan and editor-in-chief of Bizim Yo l , whom the Special Rapporteur met personall y, was abducted and beaten by unidentified men in Baku. Mr. Xaziyev was seriously injured and suffered permanent injury to a le g, which was badly broken when his aggressors drove over it. After leaving the hospita l, he went into hiding because of the risk of further attacks. His abduction might have been linked to a series of articles about corruption in the oil and fishing industrie s, in which several high-ranking officials were named. Despite the political and professional motives that could have been considere d, the investigations focused solely on his private life and were inconclusive.
5 8. On 24 November 200 6, special forces evicted Azadli q , the main opposition newspape r, from the premises it had occupie d, free of charg e, since 1992 on the basis of an agreement with the then-mayor of Baku. The eviction was made possible by a court decision which found that agreement illegal. The same da y, the independent television channel ANS was closed down by the National Television and Radio Council on the grounds that the legislation relevant to the issuance of broadcasting licences had been violated. ANS recommenced its programmes three weeks later until it was granted a new licence on 27 April 200 7.
5 9. On 24 December 200 6, Ali Oruco v , press secretary of the party Azerbaijan National Independence and contributor to the newspaper Ratin g, was assaulted. The next da y, a journalis t, Nijat Huseyno v , working for Azadli q , was seriously injured by four assailants and hospitalized for three weeks. Reportedl y, police questioned Mr. Huseynov about the attack and made a sketch of two of the assailant s, but to no avail.
V. Conclusions
6 0. Independent countries emerging from the dissolution of the Soviet Union have been experiencing a period of transition marked by political instability and lack of consistent social growth. They have inherited a legacy of a powerful and centralized State that still influences the behaviour of some State institution s, particularly law enforcement and regulatory agencie s, as well as the way relations between the State and the media are structured.
6 1. The unsettled conflict with Armenian forces over the Nagorny Karabakh region in the 1990s is still a burden for Azerbaijan and its people. The existence of almost a million internally displaced persons and significant material losse s, including a large part of territor y, are an open wound that ma y, at time s, be used for political ends. Unfortunatel y, despite some recent effort s, conditions to achieve a peaceful solution of this conflict are still far from being achieved.
6 2. Owing to impressive economic growt h, the present situation leaves the door open to rapid modernizatio n, which should be followed by general social growth. Nonetheles s, democracy cannot be consolidated without the free circulation of ideas and opinions ensured by an independent press and media. The public interest is best served by a variety of independent news medi a, both printed and broadcas t, which must be allowed to emerge and operate freely. There is an undeniable need to promote the expression of a number of voices and opinion s, still unhear d, within Azerbaijani society. In additio n, there is a need to encourage dialogue among the various business and social categories and interaction with political actors. Moreove r, dialogue among media professionals and other intellectual categories with business stakeholders could pave the way to a greater understanding of their respective positions and expectation s, thus ultimately contributing to the end of the current stalemate.
6 3. Freedom of expression begins at hom e, and the flow of news across national frontiers cannot be free if the flow of news within those frontiers is not free. Nor can there be any “national sovereignty” over news and opinion. Printed and broadcast media should have unrestricted access to foreign news and information service s, and the public should enjoy similar freedo m, without interferenc e, to receive foreign publications and broadcasts. National frontiers must be open to foreign journalist s, who should be allowed to travel freely throughout the country and have access to both official and unofficial news sources.
6 4. Journalist s, editors and other media workers are often under varying degrees of pressure from those in key institution s, business lobbies and informal associations often acting in close cooperation. In this contex t, investigative journalism is facing obstacle s, especially when it addresses sensitive topics. Correspondents in small towns are even more vulnerable ; public authorities are often hostile and the civil society is still unable to react to abuses and provide protection. In order to avoid trouble and violent reaction s, numerous media professionals may be forced to work on a sort of “stand-by” mod e, limiting their activity to the coverage of statement s, communiqués and press conferences. Lack of independence of media professionals thus remains a serious obstacle to freedom of expression.
6 5. The media environment also suffers from poor financial investments ; while national television channels and radios have their own audienc e, newspapers and other printed press are able to sell only a few thousand copies. Furthermor e, the presence of large foreign media group s, in particular from Turkey and the Russian Federatio n, does not encourage the growth of national media outlets. On the one han d, the dominance of powerful media corporation s, often linked to political and business elite s, can restrain editorial independenc e, narrow diversity of opinion and entrench self-censorship. On the othe r, media enterprises need considerable financial investments to operate not only freely but also effectively ; the real challenge consists in maintaining a distance between truly autonomous media professionals and media corporation s, whic h, by definitio n, are bound to make financial benefits. In this panoram a, the survival of the country’s rich and varied cultural heritage is at stake because of the prevalence of commercial programmes that prioritize economic return over quality information and other educational and socially ‑oriented initiatives.
6 6. According to information gathered by the Special Rapporteu r , some sectors of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and of the judiciary appear to exert considerable pressure on the media. In addition to cases of physical violenc e, the use of defamation trials severely penalized press and media freedom through the imposition of prison terms and heavy fines. Publisher s, editors and journalists reported that they practised self-censorship owing to various pressure s, including the threat of expensive libel suits. Accusations of defamation included denigration of national symbol s, thus systematically reducing room for debate about foreign policy.
6 7. Bearing in mind the vital role played by the media in creating broad awareness of politica l, economic and social issue s, the fact that many journalists go on trial for defamation charges remains totally unacceptable. Political and public figures continue to sue journalist s, although they shoul d, because of their institutional role s, be ready to accept criticism and public scrutiny to a greater extent than the ordinary citizen should.
6 8. Other categorie s, including trade unionist s, writer s, students and in general human rights defenders are also under severe stress ; in an oppressing atmosphere of conformis m, they are often depicted as traitors and proxies of hostile forces. For the purpose of guaranteeing pluralis m, relevant authorities should make sure that both State and private media provide enough room for constructive debate and dialogue on sensitive issue s, especially to those groups that rarely have the opportunity to express their opinions to a wide audience.
6 9. Training for media professionals could help improve the quality of information. Efforts should be made to increase human rights awareness and a culture of independenc e, openness and impartiality through an ethical approach to journalism. Such a step will not be possible without the financial support of the Stat e, international organizations and private enterprises.
VI. Recommendations
7 0. The Special Rapporteur invites the United Nation s, OSCE and other regional bodies to strengthen their efforts together with the concerned countries in order to find a fair and durable solution to the conflict in Nagorny Karabakh . The persistence of this conflict has a negative influenc e, at the national and regional level s, on the exercise and full enjoyment of freedom of expressio n, and in particular on freedom of movement.
7 1. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government of Azerbaijan and other relevant institutions to consider repealing criminal legislation on defamation and similar offence s, especially articles 14 7, 148 and 323 of the Criminal Cod e, with the purpose of including i t, after an adequate process of revisio n, in civil law. The existence of an increasing body of la w, at the regional and national level s, holding that criminal defamation laws per se are contrary to the right to freedom of expressio n, and the example provided by countries with a similar historical backgroun d, may help the relevant Azerbaijani institutions take such a decision. Civil defamation laws have proven adequate to protect reputations. These laws should include the principle that public figures should tolerate a greater degree of criticism than ordinary citizen s, and that the analysis of historical events and national affairs cannot be considered an offence. New legislation will also ensure that fines are proportionate to the offence and do not suffocate media activity.
7 2. State authorities should be encouraged to follow President Aliyev’s example and publicly declare their willingness to renounce legal means to respond to libel and defamation. Alternativel y, President Aliye v , using his prerogatives and power s, and with the assistance of the Human Rights Commissione r, could decide to enforce an amnesty on sentences for libel and defamatio n, and a moratorium to be quickly converted into law.
7 3. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government of Azerbaijan and relevant national bodies to regard action against impunity of crimes targeting media professionals and opinion makers as one of the main priorities of democratic evolution. In particula r, the judiciary should ensure impartia l, comprehensive investigations and judgements when law enforcement agencies appear to be involved in crimes against the exercise of freedom of expression and good governance.
7 4. The Government should take immediate remedial measure s, including financial compensation as appropriat e, for all media professionals and opinion makers who are victims of violenc e, in particular whenever law enforcement officials appear to have been involved in these criminal acts.
7 5. The Special Rapporteur invites the Government to consider appropriate legislation for the establishment of an independent national human rights commissio n, which would supplement the activities of the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner ( ombudsperson ) , mainly in the effective implementation of the national plan for the promotion and protection of human right s, adopted in December 200 6.
7 6. The Special Rapporteur encourages all stakeholders involved in the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression to find fresh impetus in their work and to show genuine openness and commitment to dialogue with their counterparts. Relevant governmental authorities should speedily carry out human rights training programmes for the benefit of their officials and cadre s, in order to bring their performance into line with the development of a true democratic State.
7 7. The Special Rapporteur calls for a general and broad revision of the laws on television and radio broadcasting. The speedy establishment of an appropriate legal and institutional framework to consider and issue licences to independent broadcasters should be seen as a priority. In this connectio n, the mandate of the National Television and Radio Council should be made more effectiv e, and the council should be able to work independently. Likewis e, the Press Council should be provided with additional human and material resources in order to increase its autonomy.
7 8. The Parliament needs to legislate on specific and urgent measures for the promotion of the pres s, whose rol e, in a period of great technological revolutio n, remains fundamental for educational purpose s, and especially for the development in its readership of a critical approach and analysis of information.
7 9. Through the support of international organization s, the establishment of a school of journalism could create a favourable environment for the development of journalism ethics. Professional training and financial investment s, especially an increase in salarie s, could help improve the moral stance of the press and the media industry.
Annex
Government and State officials
Ilham Aliye v , President of the Republic
Ramil Usubo v , Minister for Internal Affairs
Fikrat Mammado v , Minister for Justice
Iltimas A. Mammado v , Deputy Minister for Communication and Information Technologies
Khalaf Khalafo v , Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Tourab Gurbano v , Chief Specialis t, Analytical Information Sectio n, Foreign Relations Departmen t, Office of the President of the Republic
Ali Hasano v , Head of the Socio-political Departmen t, Office of the President of the Republic
Arif B. Mammado v , Attaché , Department for Human Right s, Democratization and Humanitarian Problems
Ramiz Rzaye v , Chairperso n, Supreme Court
Bahar Muradov a , Parliamentary Spokesperson
Prof. Elimira Suleymanov a , Ombudsperson
Rustam F. Mammado v , Head of the Department of International Public La w, Baku State University
Efendiyev Vusat Emir Ogl i , Vice-Recto r, Doctor of Geographical Science s, Baku State University
Media
Elchin Shikhlinsk y , Chairma n, Azerbaijan Journalists Union
Arif Aliye v , Chairma n, “ Yeni Nesil ” Azerbaijan Journalists Union
Yadigar Mammadl i , Chairma n, League of Democratic Journalists Office
Mehman Aliye v , Director Genera l, TURAN news agency
Zardusht Alizad e , Editor-in-chie f, Xazri daily
Gazanfar Bayramo v , Editor-in-chie f, Express daily
Ganimat Zahidogl u , Azadlig
Bahaddin Haziye v , Editor-in-chie f, Bizim Yol
Shahin Agabeyl i , Editor-in-chie f, Milli Yol
Aydin Guliye v , Editor-in-chie f, Baki Xeber
Fikret Faramazogl u , Editor-in-chie f, 24 saat
Ilham Tuma s , Editor-in-chie f, Nota Bene
Sadar Alibeil i , Editor-in-chie f, Nota Bene
Rauf Arifogl u , Editor-in-chie f, Yeni Musavat
Fikret Huseynl i , Azadliq
Shahbaz Huduogl u , Editor-in-chie f, Ganun
Non-governmental organizations
Rashid Hajil i , Media Rights Institute
Ibrahim Mammadl i , Coordinator of the standing commission of the Press Council for addressing problems between media and State bodies ; Head of the Monitoring Group ; President of Zardabi Press Center
Eldar Zeynalo v , Directo r, Human Rights Centre of Azerbaija n, Azerbaijan National Committee of the International Helsinki Federation
Zaliha Tahirov a , Board membe r, Human Rights Centre of Azerbaija n, Azerbaijan National Committee of the International Helsinki Federation
Intigam Aliye v , Presiden t, Legal Education Society
Saida Gojamanl y , Directo r, Bureau of Human Rights and the Respect of Law
Rustam F. Mammado v , Presiden t, Caspian - Partnership for the Future
Leyla Yunu s , Directo r, Institute of Peace and Democracy
Prof. Sajida Abdulvagabov a , Directo r, Woman’s Problems Research Union
Novella Jafarova-Appelbau m , Chairperso n, Association for the Protection of Women’s Rights after D. Aliyeva
Sattar S. Mehbaliye v , Chairperso n, Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation
Aflatun Amasho v , Chairperso n, Azerbaijan Press Council
Azer J. Tagie v , Chairperson of the Presidium of Bar Associations of Azerbaija n, Member of Central Election Commission
Diplomatic corps
Bernard Amaudric du Chaffau t , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiar y, France
Jon Ramber g , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiar y, Norway
Laurence Bristo w, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiar y, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Hans-Josef Ove r, Deputy Head of Missio n, Germany
Jason Hylan d, Deputy Head of Missio n, United States of America
Intergovernmental organizations
Sarat Da s, Chief of Missio n, International Organization for Migration
Kamran Garakhano v , Head of offic e, World Health Organization
Jose Luis Herrero Ansol a , Head of offic e, Organization for Security and Co ‑operation in Europe
Yashar Hamzaye v , National Corresponden t, International Labour Organization
Gregory T. Jedrzejcza k , Country Manage r, World Bank
United Nations
Bruno Poueza t , United Nations Resident Coordinato r, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative
William Tal l, Representativ e, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Hanaa Singe r, Representativ e, United Nations Children’s Fund
David Eizenber g , Deputy Resident Representativ e, United Nations Development Programme
Farid Babaye v , Assistant Representativ e, United Nations Fund for Population Activities
Envera Selimovi c , United Nations Department of Public Information
Teymur Malik-Aslano v , National Programme Office r, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Fuad Guseyno v , Logistics Office r, World Food Programme
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