The Voice of Mirza Xazar

Azerbaijan: PEN Profoundly Shocked at Journalist's Murder

Int'l PEN, London, 07.03.2005 -- International PEN is profoundly shocked by the murder on 2 March 2005 of journalist Elmar Huseynov. He was shot dead by unidentified men at his home in Baku. Reports that telephone and electricity lines in the neighbourhood were cut prior to his murder has led to accusations that this was an assassination of a powerful and consistent critic of the authorities. Huseynov had long been at the forefront of the struggle for freedom of expression in Azerbaijan as editor of Monitor magazine, and previously of the opposition Bakinski Bulvar newspaper. Over the years he had been subject to numerous defamation trials for articles exposing allegations of corruption within Azeri government and business. Monitor has frequently been prevented from publication because of its critical reports. PEN welcomes the announcement that an investigation into the murder has been initiated, including that experts from abroad will reportedly be among the investigators. It believes that a fully impartial and thorough investigation, followed by the speedy apprehension and prosecution of those involved in the murder is the only means through which justice can been seen to have been done. Such action will serve as a clear indication of the Azeri's authorities' abhorrence of murder as a means of censorship. It also calls on the Azeri authorities to review its policy of arrest and harassment of journalists in their attempts to report on corruption. PEN sends its commiseration to Huseynov's family and colleagues. Background on PEN: International PEN was founded in 1921 in London. It is represented worldwide through 141 centres in 99 countries. Both organisations are accredited NGOs enjoying consultative status to the United Nations and seek to promote and defend the fundamental freedoms to publish, to read and to write, defending the rights of authors and publishers to create and distribute intellectual works in complete freedom.