Shikhali in connection with case of Radio Liberty

Today, freelance journalist Islam Shikhali, who cooperates with the Radio Liberty's Azerbaijani Office, has been questioned at the Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan. The investigators asked the journalist about the activities of the Radio Liberty's Azerbaijani Office and the "Meydan TV" online TV Channel.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the evening of September 26, the apartment rented by Islam Shikhali in Baku was searched, and law enforcers seized photographic equipment and documents.

According to Islam Shikhali, his questioning at the Investigating Department for Serious Crimes of the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan has been started today at about 12:00 a.m. and completed at about 2:00 p.m.

"Frankly speaking, I don't understand in connection with what exactly I was invited to the Prosecutor's Office. The questions were related, for example, to the 'Meydan TV' online TV Channel: they asked me who cooperated with that TV Channel. They were also interested in my collaboration with Radio Liberty," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Islam Shikhali.

"I believe that the summons of journalists to the Prosecutor's Office, detentions, and questionings at police stations pursue certain goals. Perhaps, the main aim is to intimidate young journalists and force them to abandon preparations of video reports," Islam Shikhali has said.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.