Azerbaijan
Persecution of reporter continuesPosted Oct 20 2007
Hakim Eldostu Mehdiyev, reporter for Yeni Musavat, has continued to receive threats, reported the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) in Azerbijan. On October 17, Mehdiyev received an anonymous call telling him to protect himself and that all of his and his family’s private information is under review. This negative attention, it is believed, stems from Mehdiyev’s publicly talking about a story — the day before he held a conference at the IRFS press center about his current struggles.
A month ago, trouble started for Mehdiyev when National Security Ministry employees beat and threatened him to stop his reporting on social problems in the Sharur region. After making that event public, ministry employees arrested Mehdiyev, further beat him and released him after four days. His family’s teahouse and small shop were also totally destroyed.
Mehdiyev is appealing to the president and several ministers to stop the persecution, allow him to work and live safely in Nakhchivan — the city he lives in — and requesting that his family’s property be restored.