Turan news agency,
26, May 2008

Two officers of the Interior Ministry's special security regiment have been appointed to guard Azadliq newspaper reporter Aqil Xalil since the evening of Saturday 24 May, the newspaper's director Azar Ahmadov has told Turan news agency. He said that he did not know who had taken the decision to appoint the guards. Apparently, this was done at the requirement of international organizations and diplomatic missions.

"Two police officers are accompanying Aqil everywhere he goes. Both when he leaves home and office. They are also ready to be with him wherever he wants," Ahmadov said. He also explained that the newspaper had accepted the offer from the Interior Ministry but that they would not have accepted the same offer from the National Security Ministry or the Prosecutor-General's Office. Officers of the National Security Ministry were involved in an attack on Aqil Xalil and the Prosecutor-General's Office tried to acquit them. At the same time, the police was not particularly active in investigating the 22 February assault on the reporter. "Out of three bad options, we accepted a relatively acceptable one but we would not have accepted the guards of the National Security Ministry of the Prosecutor-General's Office," Ahmadov said.

Four attacks have been committed against Xalil since 22 February and he is constantly under the surveillance of unidentified people who are watching his movements and eavesdropping on his phone conversations. International organizations have more than once demanded that the Azerbaijani authorities ensure the reporter's security, and find and punish his assailants.

AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT COMMENCES DISCUSSIONS ON AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE AND LAW ON FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY