Opposition web site blocked in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, the satirical web site Tinsoмbeti.com was hacked and blocked. Its access is impossible both from Azerbaijan and abroad. This is the topic of the statement of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Security sent to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

People at the Institute are sure that the hacker's attack was undertaken under the command of Azerbaijani authorities who are resolutely and regularly criticising the web site. The web site was organized by Azerbaijani emigrants living in Germany.

Recently, the web site has placed video and photo stories about the capture of the office of the "Real Azerbaijan" newspaper and subsequent eviction of the paper staff.

Meanwhile, Ali Gasanov, head of the public-and-political department of the President's Administration, thinks that Azerbaijan has set up the "normal soil" for operation of Internet web sites, and the authorities in no case hamper the process. As to release of condemned journalists from custody, the practice shows, according to A. Gasanov, that pardoned journalists subsequently "never get corrected."

We note here that as of today, 8 journalists are under arrest in Azerbaijan, and several printed editions are stopped.