Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani government has expressed astonishment at the United States' response to a recent court ruling to sentence the editor of two local publications to eight-and-a-half years in jail. Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of the Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language daily Gundalik Azerbaijan newspapers, was convicted on October 30 on charges of posing a terrorist threat, inciting inter-ethnic rifts and tax evasion. The journalist has been in detention since April. His two newspapers had to shut down.
The US has criticized Baku over the paper editor's imprisonment. The Department of State maintained that it appeared to be "an attempt to silence criticism and stifle free speech". The State Department spokesman, Tom Casey, said prosecuting Fatullayev under anti-terrorism laws "indicates a fear of the fundamental freedom of speech that is sharply at odds with the government of Azerbaijan's professed desire to develop democratic institutions".
"We call on the government of Azerbaijan to respect fully the rights of a free press and to support the development of an independent media," Casey said.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has brushed off the criticism as unfounded.
"Fatullayev was sentenced by the first instance court in accord with the legislation of the Azerbaijan Republic," it said in a statement. "The allegations that his conviction under anti-terrorism laws jeopardizes freedom of speech are erroneous. Azerbaijan is taking serious steps to combat terror and is an active member of the anti-terror coalition. The government's policy is aimed at achieving peace, democracy and prosperity in the country."
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, earlier voiced "dismay" over the prison sentence of the paper editor. He said media freedom in Azerbaijan was under growing pressure from the authorities, saying the sentence was not in line with the government's commitments on press freedom.
Some international rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders, have issued statements alleging that Fatullayev's prosecution was politically motivated.
Seven journalists are currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.