Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urging the international community to pressure Azerbaijan to release imprisoned journalists and end the severe violations of their rights. “Access restrictions, physical violence, arrests: in Azerbaijan, a petro-state that derives over 90% of its revenue from oil and gas exports, journalists covering sensitive issues such as the environment are working in a highly dangerous environment. Over the past year, authorities have arrested around 15 journalists due to their work,” the organization said in a statement. “Setting an example in the protection of journalism, particularly environmental journalism, should be a prerequisite for hosting a UN climate conference. How can we accept that a petro-state that imprisons independent journalists is the host of negotiations that will determine the future of global climate?”
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has also called on visiting delegations to press Azerbaijan over the crackdown on independent media representatives. “Azerbaijan’s treatment of the press is absolutely incompatible with the human rights values expected of a United Nations host country,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator,” Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said.
