Azerbaijan Has Something to Hide: Journalist on Buntman ‘Persona Non-Grata’ in Azerbaijan

Nezavisimaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Konstantin Remchukov recently commented on Ekho Moskvy (“Echo of Moscow”) first deputy editor Sergei Buntman’s status as persona non-grata in Azerbaijan because of his visit to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Commenting on Baku’s position, according to which prior to visiting Karabakh Ekho Moskvy should’ve received permission from Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry, Remchukov said:

“First, the fact that the territories are disputed already indicates that in this case it is very difficult to agree on a position — either with Armenia’s foreign affairs ministry or Azerbaijan’s foreign affairs ministry. And even with Russia’s foreign affairs ministry. Because diplomats have their laws and journalists have theirs. Journalists should strive to fairly inform the public about what is happening.  Thus, I express my unconditional solidarity with Ekho Moskvy and with Sergei Buntman.

“I believe that Azerbaijan’s authorities are not acting as adults, which is painful. They know the liberal democratic and objective nature of the radio station, which, of course, is the main principle of their work. Buntman has a nearly 20-year-old reputation as a very good journalist. And so such announcements apart from discrediting the country, also suggest that not everything there is pure. Because authorities are usually nervous when independent journalists penetrate there where they have something to hide. Because when all is well, authorities, in my opinion, load journalists onto buses and take them to show the world, friendship, food. So I think that this incident once again underscores that it’s very good that Ekho Moskvy exists, with such nosy and inquisitive journalists.”