Mijatović embarrasses Azerbaijani official

TBILISI, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: At the 11th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference “Public Service Broadcasting in the Digital Age” the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović responded to the statement of the Azerbaijani president staff representative Kamran Hasanov that the criticism over the situation of the freedom of speech in Azerbaijan is unilateral.

Armenpress reports that with her response Mijatović reconfirmed the statements made in Tbilisi today.“I know quite well about the situation with the freedom of speech in Azerbaijan. I have been there for many times and I was given the opportunity to visit prisons in Azerbaijan, where I met with the journalists and bloggers. I have also heard stories that some of these people are “drug traffickers”, “hooligans”, etc.”, - said Mijatović, responding to the statements that there are no prisoners, arrested for their political and journalistic ideas in Azerbaijani prisons.

Mijatović emphasized that she has met with the Azerbaijani authorities for many times.“In the result of these visits many people were released by amnesty, but as far as there are prisoners, who have appeared in prison for their articles or words, it is a problem and it will not be changed until you change it”, - said Mijatović, adding that arresting people for their articles or words in Azerbaijan will not settle any issue in the country.

Earlier it was reported that the Azerbaijani journalist and blogger Mehman Huseynov could not manage to participate in the 11th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference “Public Service Broadcasting in the Digital Age”, which launched in Tbilisi on Monday, 10 November, as he was detained in the Baku airport. The international community and prominent organizations keep criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities for the limitations of the freedom of speech in the country. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović reflected on the situation in Azerbaijan in her opening remarks at the Conference.

The 11th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference “Public Service Broadcasting in the Digital Age” commenced in Tbilisi on Monday, 10 November. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, opened the conference.

The participants at the two-day conference will discuss the challenges, opportunities and strategic dilemmas for public service broadcasters in the digital age, and the latest media freedom developments in the South Caucasus. The event will bring together more than 70 journalists, government representatives, and representatives from NGO’s and academia, along with international experts.