Journalists to start hunger strike in Azerbaijan against pressure on the press

At their today's sitting, the Board of Editors of Azerbaijani mass media made a decision to hold a series of protest actions in the context of the facts of pressure on the press and attempts to move the "Azadlyg" newspaper out of its building. Thus, a decision was made to start a hunger-strike action on November 8. Meanwhile, the activists of the parties-members of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom) Block are holding their hunger strike in the premises of the editorial board of the "Azadlyg" newspaper for the ninth day already. They demand to stop the authorities' pressure on mass media, and, in particular, to recall the judicial claim on moving the "Azadlyg" newspaper and other mass media out of their building at 33 Khagani Street.

Three more activists have joined the action during the last two days, while the authorities are still giving no reaction to the demands of the protesters.

In its turn, the Committee for Defence of the Rights of Satirist Sakit Zakhidov has sent applications to the NATO General Secretary, head of the European Commission and prime minister of Belgium asking them to raise the issue before Ilkham Aliev, president of Azerbaijan, on releasing satirical journalist Sakit Zakhidov from custody. Zakhidov was convicted on far-fetched charges of possessing and using narcotic drugs.