PACE rep lacks confidence in boycotts, hunger strikes
A Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
co-rapporteur Andres Herkel has said boycotts and hunger strikes
were not the best ways of making one's voice heard.
Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of the Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language daily Gundalik Azerbaijan newspapers who was convicted on charges of posing a terrorist threat, inciting inter-ethnic rifts and tax evasion last year launched a hunger strike on March 26, demanding an unbiased review of his case and release of his counterparts. Several journalists have joined the protest to support the jailed journalist.
With regard to the protesters' call on the Council of Europe and the OSCE to develop specific mechanisms to protect journalists' rights, Herkel told Radio Liberty that what he described as pressure on the media in Azerbaijan has always been in CE's spotlight and the issue will be raised at the assembly's session in June.
Herkel did not rule out that a declaration on protecting journalists' rights will be adopted on a committee level. He said such a document would be submitted to the PACE.
The rapporteur noted that if the hunger strike continues, talks to that end will be held with Azerbaijani authorities.
Three journalists are currently jailed in the country.
Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of the Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language daily Gundalik Azerbaijan newspapers who was convicted on charges of posing a terrorist threat, inciting inter-ethnic rifts and tax evasion last year launched a hunger strike on March 26, demanding an unbiased review of his case and release of his counterparts. Several journalists have joined the protest to support the jailed journalist.
With regard to the protesters' call on the Council of Europe and the OSCE to develop specific mechanisms to protect journalists' rights, Herkel told Radio Liberty that what he described as pressure on the media in Azerbaijan has always been in CE's spotlight and the issue will be raised at the assembly's session in June.
Herkel did not rule out that a declaration on protecting journalists' rights will be adopted on a committee level. He said such a document would be submitted to the PACE.
The rapporteur noted that if the hunger strike continues, talks to that end will be held with Azerbaijani authorities.
Three journalists are currently jailed in the country.
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