An Azerbaijani newspaper editor jailed after criticising the government has been given Amnesty International’s award for journalism under threat. At a ceremony in London, the human-rights group urged Azerbaijan to free Eynulla Fatullayev and stop trying “to stifle freedom of expression”. Mr Fatullayev was sentenced to 30 months in jail for libel in April 2007. Six months later, he was sentenced to a further six years on terrorism and incitement of ethnic hatred charges. Amnesty’s UK Director Kate Allen said: “People like Fatullayev face constant opposition and great personal risk, simply for exercising their human right to freedom of expression and doing their job as a professional journalist.” Mr Fatullayev founded the Azeri-language newspaper Gundelik Azerbaycan and the Russian-language Realny Azerbaijan, which became known for criticising government officials. Since his imprisonment, both newspapers have closed. Mr Fatullayev also worked for the opposition newspaper Monitor, which closed after the murder in 2005 of its editor, Elmar Huseynov.
Mr Fatullayev’s father, Emin, said receiving the award from Amnesty had “delighted both him, and all our family”. “He is in prison for the truth, and I think that, when he comes out, he will continue his work in that direction,” he added. In October 2007, the US said the trial of Mr Fatullayev under anti-terrorism laws indicated “a fear of the fundamental freedom of speech that is sharply at odds with the government of Azerbaijan’s professed desire to develop democratic institutions”.