Human rights activist Chingiz Ganizade: "It would be positive if four imprisoned journalists are pardoned in Azerbaijan before the January session of PACE"

The frameworks of mass media, where there have been an alternative position, objective information and pluralistic opinion, are getting limited and this is among the main problems of the passing year of 2008, said chairman of the center of protection of media rights Matanat Muslimgizi at today's press conference of the monitoring group of human rights organizations on results of the year in the sphere of human rights.

She said the journalists' chance to get information is being restricted.

"The situation is the worst in the sphere of electronic mass media. TV channels which are private and independent, in reality fully depend on powers. The public television, created by CE recommendations, also does not create conditions for expression of alternative opinion, while in case of execution of plans on the shutdown of foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan, the situation will even worsen in the country", said she.

Human rights activist Chingiz Ganizade noted that it would be positive if four imprisoned journalists, including Eynulla Fatullayev, Mirza Sakit Ganimat Zahid and Mushvig Huseynov as well as some people from the list of 27, prepared by the human rights activists.

The head of the Bureau on human rights and legality observance Saida Gojamanly said that the decision to allow Mirza Sakit and Ganimat Zahid to attend the funeral of their father to be a positive moment.

"We had a point in legislation according to which an imprisoned person has a right to attend funeral of his relatives. Yet, this right has never been applied before. Human rights activist Chingiz Ganizade did much for the two brother journalists to be able to use this right. 

/Day.Az/