Journalists and human rights activists from Baku were denied meeting with the Ombudsman of NAR

On September, 12, a delegation of 20 Azerbaijani journalists and human rights activists visited the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR). Ombudsman of the republic Ulkar Bairamova refused to meet the delegation and the management of the Ministry of Interior Affairs asked them to leave the territory of NAR, the journalists and human rights activists report. 

The goal of the visit of the delegation from Baku was participation in the trial on the case on Khakimeldostu Mehtiev, reporter of the Institute of Freedom and Safety of Reporters (IFSR) and clarifying the circumstances of the death of Taruj Zeinalov, an employee of the local airport, in the Ministry of National Security (MNS) of NAR and detention of four more employees of the airport whom the secret service accuses of collaboration with Iranian intelligence service.

Right from the airport the delegation started for the town of Sharur in the local court of which the trial on the case of regional correspondent of ISFR Mehtiev was going. He is accused of illegal use of electricity in a small car wash belonging to him in the settlement of Jalil. 

Mehtiev, however, is sure that he is prosecuted for political reasons, because of his human rights activities. According to him, an investigator of Public prosecutor's office made inquiries about his collaboration with foreign organizations.

After their visit to the town of Sharur the members of the delegation had a meeting with resident of the settlement of Pusian, Sharur district, Sagib Aliev. According to him, he and members of his family underwent severe prosecution because Sahavat Aliev, one of the members of the family, put himself forward as candidate at the parliamentary election of 2010 without the authorities' permission and later appealed against the results of voting. 

However, the delegation's attempt to meet with the management of the Ministry of National Security of NAR failed. A representative of the office came out to the journalists and human rights activists and declared that nobody would have any official meetings with them. 

In reply to the question about Turaj Zeinalov's case the representative of the Ministry said that the information was available at the web-site of MNS.

Ombudsman of NAR Ulkar Bairamova also refused to receive the delegation from Baku. In her office the members of the delegation were told that reception was available by appointment only.

"If the Ombudsman of Nakhichevan ignores a group of human rights activists and journalists one can imagine how complaints from grassroots are received", member of the delegation Emin Guseinov remarked in his talk with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Early in the evening the members of the delegation from Baku were asked to leave the territory of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. When they were in the park "Bolshoi Sad" ("Big Garden") a policeman approached them and said that Chief of the Department of Public Security of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of NAR wished to meet the delegation.

"The meeting took place in the street near the park. A person who was introduced as Chief of the Department of the Ministry of Interior Affairs said that a complaint was received from the Apparat of Ombudsman that we had violated public order in the office. For this reason he asked us to leave the territory of Nakhichevan immediately", member of the delegation, independent journalist Shahveled Chobanoglu says.

However, according to the members of the delegation, they refused to obey this demand. They intend to hold a press conference in the capital of Azerbaijan on September, 13.