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“A promise from Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev to “personally oversee” the investigation into the beating to death of journalist Rasim Aliyev is unlikely to result in real justice”, – Amnesty International said in its statement.
“For too long, Azerbaijan’s journalists have been subjected to persecution and horrific attacks such as this one. Their killings frequently go without the culprits being prosecuted and brought to justice, despite the cynical assurances of impartial investigations,” – said Natalia Nozadze, Azerbaijan Researcher at Amnesty International.
In 2005 the president also promised to “personally oversee” the investigation into the killing of journalist Elmar Huseynov, but the case remains unsolved.
“President Aliyev’s government must ensure a truly thorough, independent and impartial investigation is immediately undertaken into the death of Rasim Aliyev. Freedom of expression in Azerbaijan is already on life support. The authorities need to act now and effectively protect journalists at risk if that freedom is not to become extinct,” – said Natalia Nozadze.