Another One Bites the Dust

Azerbaijan's main opposition newspaper, Eni Musavav, is on the verge of going out of business, according to the paper's acting editor, Gabil Abbasoglu.

Abbasoglu blamed the problem on legal actions brought against the daily by the government. The authorities, he said, are seeking payment of approximately $30,000 in fines arising from six separate cases and have blocked the newspaper from otherwise using its day-to-day sales income. All income from sales of Eni Musavat, handled by three companies, has been sequestered in special accounts.

Abbasoglu called the action 'arbitrary and in violation of the law.'

The chief bank account of the newspaper has been under seal since last August. One result is that the newspaper's staff now is working without pay. 'If we were selling 25,000 copies per issue before the presidential election of 2003, we're barely at 10,000 today,' the editor said. Because of the lack of pay, reporters are beginning to leave, he said.

He said the newspaper has appealed to President Ilkham Aliyev in a statement noting that the latter's late father had every opportunity to close the paper but did not do so. The statement also calls on the head of government not to deprive the country of a forum for the opposition. 'We stand ready to hear out any conditions proposed by the authorities and will work with full consideration of their views,' the statement declares.

The publication is seeking help from its distributors, other newspaper organizations and, most important, the Press Union, the editor said. The newspaper staff is threatening a hunger strike to call attention to the situation.