To: President Heidar Aliyev FAX +994 12 920625

CC: Prosecutor General Eldar Gasanov FAX +994 12 922663

Your Excellencies:

The International League for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization devoted to protecting human rights defenders, is concerned about the fact that editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat Rauf Arifoglu has for been criminally charged for the fourth time.

Arifoglu was arrested on August 22 and accused of the following three crimes: illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy in hijacking of an airplane, and conspiracy in terrorism. Now to the list of charges has been added another one-calls for a violent overthrow of the government. The Prosecutor-General's office bases its accusations on its content analysis of 76 issues of Yeni Musavat newspaper and, particularly, Arifoglu's articles. Having contacted Arifoglu's lawyers, the League deems these charges completely unsubstantiated and groundless. Furthermore, the fact that Arifoglu works for one of the most popular opposition newspapers in Azerbaijan strongly suggests the political nature of the charges brought against the editor.

The League urges You to use the powers of Your office and stop all criminal prosecution of Mr. Arifoglu and to ensure that newspaper journalists and other representatives of mass media are able to practice their trade freely and safely.

Sincerely,

Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Executive Director