Editor’s note: This is a statement signed by journalists from 16 countries that demand that Azerbaijan release kidnapped reporter Afgan Mukhtarli.
We, journalists from 16 countries, call for the immediate release of investigative journalist Afgan Mukhtarli of Meydan TV, who was kidnapped from Georgia on May 29, smuggled into Azerbaijan, and imprisoned there.
We decry the intensification of the Azerbaijan regime’s war against its dissidents, manifested by this unprecedented cross-border attack.
We believe that this assault is intended solely to silence an investigative journalist known for reporting on the corruption of Azerbaijani authorities.
Journalists protest next to the embassies of Azerbaijan and Georgia in Riga, Latvia, on June 15 to demand the release of Azerbaijani reporter Afgan Mukhtarly, who was abducted from Georgia on May 29 and jailed in Azerbaijan. (Alfreds Ulmanis)
We think that the absurd nature of the crimes with which Mukhtarli has been charged in Azerbaijan underlines the determination of the regime to impose its repressive rule outside the country.
We are alert to the reluctance of Georgian authorities to investigate the abduction.
We call on the international community to intervene and support Mukhtarli. We are sure that the partners of Azerbaijan and Georgia in the West will disgrace themselves if they ignore this outrageous attack on the freedom of expression.
Signed by journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Estonia, France, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, U.K., U.S.
Signatories:
Kristina Barseghyan, Hetq.am (Armenia)
Karen Zadoyan, Iravaban.net (Armenia)
Leyla Mustafayeva, Meydan TV (Azerbaijan/Georgia)
Samra Sadraddinli (Azerbaijan/Georgia)
Kanstantsin Lashkevich, Belarusian Association of Journalists (Belarus)
Olga Tsvetkova, Press Club Belarus (Belarus)
Nino Gagua, iFact (Georgia)
Tinatin Dvalishvili, CCFJ (Georgia)
Anastasia Morozova, ARU.tv (Estonia)
Eldiyar Arykbaev, Kloop Media (Kyrgyzstan)
Inga Springe, The Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism Re:Baltica (Latvia)
Ivars Belte, Latvijas Televīzija (Latvia)
Anton Lysenkov, SPEKTR.PRESS (Russia/Latvia)
Julia Bashinova, Grani.ru (Lithuania)
Ion Surdu, MoldNova (Moldova)
Irina Surdu, Platforma E-Sanatate (Moldova)
Oleg Kopylov, Altapress.ru (Russia)
Kirill Artemenko, Paperpaper.ru (Russia)
Umed Babakhanov, Asia Plus (Tajikistan)
Olena Prytula, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Angelina Kariakina, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Olga Rudenko, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Mark Lee Hunter (USA)
Sieviaryn Kviatkouski, freelancer (Belarus)
Nino Zuriashvili, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Tazi Kupreishvili, On.ge (Georgia)
Giorgi Mgeladze, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Nata Dzvelishvili, The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics (Georgia)
Maya Metskhvarishvili , Netgazeti.ge (Georgia)
Natalia Vakhtangashvili, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Arta Giga, Red Dot Media, Re:Baltica (Latvia)
Tamar Gelashvili, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Kamilla Mamedova, community radio “Marneuli” (Georgia)
Irma Zoidze, Studio Rec (Georgia)
Bermet Talant, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Marika Dudunia, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Salome Tsetskhladze, TI Georgia (Georgia)
Eter Turadze, Newspaper Batumelebi (Georgia)
Orkhan Mammad, Meydan TV (Azerbaijan)
Nino Ramishvili, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Elena Loginova, OCCRP (Ukraine)
Olga Yudina, BuroUA (Ukraine)
Beata Biel, freelancer (Poland)
Eugen Zaslavsky, Media Development Foundation (Ukraine)
Anna Yakutenko, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Yuliana Romanyshyn, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Oksana Piddubna, Espreso TV (Ukraine)
Magda Purtskhvanidze, Radio Dzveli Kalaki (Georgia)
Alisa Kaiser, Wordly.us (USA)
Serhiy Andrukh, Art-Prostir (Ukraine)
Veronika Melkozerova, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Tetiana Gonchenko, 061.ua (Ukraine)
Andrei Bastunets, Belarusian Association of Journalists (Belarus)
Alya Shandra, Euromaidan Press (Ukraine)
Yuras Karmanau, Belarusian Association of Journalists (Belarus)
Tetiana Gubenko, TV Studio “Only Good” (Ukraine)
Olena Shkarpova, VoxUkraine (Ukraine)
Natia Chekheria, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Aynur Elgunesh, freelancer (Azerbaijan)
Sergiy Gogol, Breeze TV of Ukrainian Naval Forces (Ukraine)
Olena Abramovych, Inter TV (Ukraine)
Barys Haretski, Belarusian Association of Journalists (Belarus)
Gunta Sloga, Latvian Television (Latvia)
Anna Reshetnyk, Lviv Post (Ukraine)
Teona Bakuridze, Ajara TV and Radio (Georgia)
Ekaterine Basharuli, Business Media Georgia (Georgia)
Daryna Shevchenko, ZIK TV (Ukraine)
Telara Gelantia, TV Pirveli (Georgia)
Olena Goncharova, Kyiv Post (Georgia)
Lika Zakashvili, Liberali.ge (Georgia)
Alisa Grudina, freelancer (Ukraine)
Alyona Zhuk, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Ilan Greenberg, Coda Media (USA)
Rusudan Vashakidze, Rustavi 2 Broadcasting Company (Georgia)
Gela Bochikashvili, On.ge (Georgia)
Liepa Želnienė, 15min.lt (Lithuania)
Tatia Khaliani, Liberali Magazine (Georgia)
Nona Kvlividze, Rustavi2 (Georgia)
Natalie Sedletska, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Ukraine)
Is Antadze, GPB (Georgia)
Maia Lomidze, Rustavi 2 (Georgia)
Salome Achba , Mediachecker (Georgia)
Mykhailo Tkach, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Ukraine)
Teona Gegelia , TV Company IMEDI (Georgia)
Irakli Absandze, GPB (Georgia)
Iryna Rudenko, Komsomolskaya Pravda in Ukraine (Ukraine)
Aliaksandr Papko, Polish Radio (Poland)
Ana Berukashvili, TV imedi (Georgia)
Nastya Grechnykova, Channel 9 (Ukraine)
Ia Asatiani, Studio Re (Georgia)
Andrei Aliaksandrau, BelaPAN (Belarus)
Nana Biganishvili, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Victoria Shkaboy, Narodne Slovo (Ukraine)
Nestan Tsetskhladze, Netgazeti.ge/Gazeti Batumelebi (Georgia)
Levan Chitanava, Business Time Georgia (Georgia)
Natalie Gryvnyak, Infeatures Story Production (Ukraine)
Barys Tasman, Pressball (Belarus)
Veniamin Dmitroshkin, 7×7-Journal (Lithuania)
Svetlana Riznookaya, ForUm (Ukraine)
Ivo Leitans, LTV (Latvia)
Yuliana Skibitskaya, freelancer (Ukraine)
Oksana Ruzhenkova, Propozitsiya.com (Ukraine)
Lilya Budzhurova, Crimean Tatars website (Ukraine)
Kateryna Venzhyk, Delo.ua (Ukraine)
Elza Elbakidze, Factcheck.ge (Georgia)
Gulnar Salimova, freelancer (Azerbaijan)
Aziz Naqibzod, blogger (Tajikistan)
Olha Sytnik, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Fedor Popadiuk, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Alina Poliakova, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Nikolai Topalov, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Sevgi Musaieva, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Dmytro Denkov, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Anna Grigorash, BZH.life (Ukraine)
Oleksandra Gayvoronska, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Dmitri Verbicky, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Irina Andejcev, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Anastasiia Ivashyna, Media Communications at Ukrainian Catholic University (Ukraine)
Daria Zadorozhna, Lustrum (Ukraine)
Natalia Antelava, Coda Media (Georgia)
Katerina Patin, Coda Story (USA)
Keso Sanikidze, TV Imedi (Georgia)
Amalia Oganjanyan, Deutsche Welle (Georgia)
Tornike Devadze, news agency Geonews.ge (Georgia)
Dmitry Ryasnoy, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Marika Zakaradze, Independent Journalists House (Georgia)
Anastasiya Ringis, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Magda Memanishvili, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Siamion Pechanko, Gazetaby.com (Belarus)
Viktor Fedorovich, BelGazeta (Belarus)
Inna Dolzhenkova, Detector Media (Ukraine)
Roman Gordiy, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Teona Tutmanodze, Adjara TV (Georgia)
Alisa Berezutska, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Lana Kokaia, Kutaisipost (Georgia)
Amy Mackinnon, Coda Story (UK)
Maria Zhartovskaya, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Mustafa Nayyem, former journalist (Ukraine)
Iurii Marchenko, platfor.ma (Ukraine)
Yanina Melnikava, Mediakritika.by (Belarus)
Lera Lauda, BZH.life (Ukraine)
Yana Katasonova, Treba.info (Ukraine)
Lela Dumbadze, Batumelebi (Georgia)
Régis Genté, freelancer (France)
Nica Virginia, moldNova (Moldova)
Denys Bihus, Bihus.info (Ukraine)
Iurie Sanduta, RISE Moldova (Moldova)
Rita Ruduša, Baltic Centre for Media Excellence (Latvia)
Anastasia Nani, Center for Investigative Journalism (Moldova)
Julia Berezovskaya, grani.ru (France)
Oksana Grytsenko, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Ion Preasca, RISE Moldova and Mold-Street.com (Moldova)
Nastia Sosnova, Media Development Foundation (Ukraine)
Liuba Șevciuc, RISE Moldova (Moldova)
Doina Ipatii, RISE Moldova (Moldova)
Roman Romaniuk, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Olena Roshchyna, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Tata Voronova, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Kateryna Tyshchenko, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Olga Papash, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Tamara Kudriavchenko, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Natalia Vuitik, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Andrii Klymenko, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Tetiana Kusok, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Oksana Mamchenkova, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Anna Trofimova, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Svetlana Bykova, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Yuliya Grytsenko, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Stas Bychek, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Valentyna Romanenko, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Iuliia Bankova, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Nataliya Gumenyuk, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Anastasia Stanko, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Katya Gorchinska, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Maksym Kamenev, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Kateryna Sergatskova, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Iryna Slavinska, Hromadske Radio (Ukraine)
Kyrylo Loukerenko, Hromadske Radio (Ukraine)
Pavel Morozov, ARU.tv (Estonia)
Maria Sebova, Novy TV Channel (Ukraine)
Ivanna Kostina, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Iryna Balachuk, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Victoriia Chornoziumska, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Oksana Kovalenko, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Dmytro Gnap, Slidstvo.info (Ukraine)
Pavlo Pakhomenko, freelancer (Ukraine)
Jahor Marcinovich, Nasha Niva (Belarus)
Tina Tsomaia, Newscafe.ge (Georgia)
Ninia Kakabadze, Jamnews (Georgia)
Yulia Rajeh, Belsat TV (Belarus)
Olga Ceaglei, RISE Moldova (Moldova)
Sanita Jemberga, Re:Baltica (Latvia)
Aliaksiej Siudak, Vialejka.info (Belarus)
Kateryna Botanova, Ukrayinska Pravda (Switzerland/Ukraine)
Stanislau Ivashkevich, Belsat TV (Belarus)
Anda Burve-Rozite, A/S Cits Medijs (Latvia)
Liene Bērziņa, Radio CapitalFM (Latvija)
Maria Romanenko, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Nataliya Trach, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Petru Botnaru, Adevarul (Moldova)
Marite Jankelevica, Talsu Vēstis (Latvia)
Nicolae Cuschevici, RISE Moldova (Moldova)
Alena Andreyeva-Hruk, TUT.BY (Belarus)
Vladimir Thorik RISE Moldova (Moldova)
Zane Zarina, Diena (Latvia)
Inna Civirjic, RISE Moldova (Moldova)
Marianna Grigoryan, MediaLab.am (Armenia)
Kateryna Kobernyk, 1+1 Media (Ukraine)
Pavlo Podufalov, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Andrey Davydchyk, freelance photographer (Belarus)
Sofo Maisuradze, TV IMEDI (Georgia)
Ganna Chaplygina, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Victor Pichugin, Hromadske TV Kharkiv (Ukraine)
Vadim Vagner, MTG Group (Latvia)
Sandra Liepina, Veto magazine (Latvija)
Elena Cioina, E-Sanatate.md (Moldova)
Nataliya Gumenyuk, Hromadske (Ukraine)
Tamara Istomina, Kyiv Post (Ukraine)
Ugis Gruntmanis, freelancer (Latvia)
Volha Khvoin, Belarusian Association of Journalists (Belarus)
Davis Landorfs, freelancer (Latvia)
Yuriy Onyshkiv (Ukraine)
Kristina Berdynskykh, Novoe Vremya (Ukraine)
Tatev Khachatryan, Hetq.am (Armenia)
Oleksiy Gribanovskiy, Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukraine)
Nana Biganishvili, Studio Monitor (Georgia)
Dan Caranfil, moldNova.eu (Moldova)
Hrant Galstyan, Hetq.am (Armenia)
