Media representatives have an important roles such as working in the war and post war zones, disseminating impartial and objective information and acting as a bridge between the conflict zone and other parties.
With great regret, we bring to your attention that on June 4, in the Susuzlug village of Kelbajar region, Siraj Abishov, a cameraman of Azerbaijan State Television and Maharram Ibrahimov, employee of the Azerbaijan State News Agency were blown up by a mine while performing their job duties in the liberated territories.
A vehicle carrying members of the film crew hit an anti-tank mine. As a result of an incident, three people were killed and four more were seriously injured.
Following the end of the war, more than 140 civilians were affected from mines planted by the Armenian occupiers in the liberated regions, 27 of them were killed.
The tragedy shows that Armenia is still pursuing an insidious policy in the region, implementing various methods of mining in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Thus, there are serious threats to the lives of civilians and media representatives in the region, and we journalists are deeply concerned about this situation.
Unfortunately, in many cases, international non-governmental organizations, acting as defenders of the rights of journalists give no reaction to crimes and continue to remain silent. The indifference of international human rights organizations and journalists’ associations to the violations of human rights and the rule of law that impede the activities of civilians including the media, can lead to an increase of such crimes across the world.
As Azerbaijani journalists living abroad, we appeal to international organizations, including the UN and the Council of Europe, as well as the human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, with a request to provide maps of minefields of the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the armed forces of Armenia and liberated as a result of a 44-day war. By not presenting maps of minefields, and secretly carrying out the process of planting landmines even today, Armenia grossly violates humanitarian norms and principles.
We reiterate that because of the criminal actions of Armenia, civilians and media representatives lost their lives. We demand Armenia to reveal the maps of the mines planted in the territories of Azerbaijan, kept under occupation for 30 years, and stop the process of planting land mines within internationally recognized state borders of Azerbaijan even today. We one more time demand that the international community and Journalists’ Associations be attentive to what is happening.
Mammad Gulmammadov Turkey Haber Global
Sevil Nuriyeva Turkey STAR TV
Natiq Nailaoghlu Turkey Real TV
Nigar Mahmudova Turkey Haber Global
Ilhama Gasimli Turkey independent journalist
Mahsati Sharif Turkey independent journalist
Konul Shamilgizi Turkey independent journalist
Nigar Ogeday Turkey independent journalist
Vuqar Abbasov Netherlands head of “Connect” , journalist
Khatira Sardargizi Netherlands Real TV
Tunzala Rafiggizi Germany independent journalist
Farahim Gasimov Germany xeber.de
Vahid Imanov Spain independent journalist
Saadat Kadirova Russia politician, journalist
Shariyar Imanbayli Russia vice-president of “Vostok” media-holding
Khayal Taghiyev Russia independent journalist
Nilufar Shikhli Russia Ria Novosti
Ramiz Mashadihasanli Kazakhstan Turkel Media
Asli Khalilqizi Turkey independent journalist
Azer Jahangirov Russia international journalist
Naila Afandiyeva Russia editor in polska.ru
Idrak Abbasov Norway Public TeleRadio
Azer Mammadov Georgia independent journalist
Hijran Aliyeva Poland independent journalist
Vahid Gazi Sweden independent journalist
Museyib Alakbarov Russia editor in news.ru
Ogtay Hajimusali Turkey independent journalist
Ilkin Huseynov Georgia aktual.ge
Nahid Gurbanov Georgia interpress.ge
Ulkar Farmangizi Turkey voicepress.com.tr