Azerbaijani Turan news agency quotes the article “Europe must defend free expression” by Secretary General of CoE Thorbjorn Jagland published in British Guardian.

“As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, everyone should remember that our democracy depends on this important right. The fate of imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev is a matter of grave concern. He has been jailed for three years on dubious charges by the Azerbaijani authorities. He is an award-winning journalist who was just doing his job. The European Court of Human Rights decided last month that he should be released immediately.

The court decision said Azerbaijan had violated three articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including article 10 concerning the right to freedom of expression.

Azerbaijan signed the convention in January 2001, and ratified it in April 2002. As a signatory, Azerbaijan is legally bound to comply with these rulings. Nothing more needs to be said,” Jagland says.