Five years after his death, the killers of Azerbaijani opposition journalist Elmar Huseynov have still not been brought to justice, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
Huseynov, editor of the independent weekly "Monitor," was shot dead outside his apartment in Baku on March 2, 2005. Two Georgian citizens of Azerbaijani origin have been identified as suspects. Georgia says no formal request has been made to take legal action against them.
Elsa Vidal of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) told RFE/RL that she considers it "shocking" that no one has been indicted despite government officials' pledges to solve the killing. She said it is increasingly unlikely that the killer will ever be identified and arrested.
Huseynov's wife, Rushaniyye Huseynova, recently appealed to the European Court of Human Rights about her husband's case. She accused the Azerbaijani government of inaction.
Huseynov's friend and fellow journalist Eynulla Fatullayev launched a private investigation into the murder. In 2007, he published an article in his newspaper, "Realny Azerbaijan," claiming that senior Azerbaijani officials ordered Huseynov's killing.
Within months, Fatullayev was charged with defamation, terrorism, tax evasion, and incitement to ethnic hatred. He was tried and sentenced to eight years in jail.
Huseynov, editor of the independent weekly "Monitor," was shot dead outside his apartment in Baku on March 2, 2005. Two Georgian citizens of Azerbaijani origin have been identified as suspects. Georgia says no formal request has been made to take legal action against them.
Elsa Vidal of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) told RFE/RL that she considers it "shocking" that no one has been indicted despite government officials' pledges to solve the killing. She said it is increasingly unlikely that the killer will ever be identified and arrested.
Huseynov's wife, Rushaniyye Huseynova, recently appealed to the European Court of Human Rights about her husband's case. She accused the Azerbaijani government of inaction.
Huseynov's friend and fellow journalist Eynulla Fatullayev launched a private investigation into the murder. In 2007, he published an article in his newspaper, "Realny Azerbaijan," claiming that senior Azerbaijani officials ordered Huseynov's killing.
Within months, Fatullayev was charged with defamation, terrorism, tax evasion, and incitement to ethnic hatred. He was tried and sentenced to eight years in jail.