Photojournalist from Bloomberg held and deported from Baku airport

On 28 June Diana Markosyan, photojournalist for Bloomberg, was held at Baku airport.

Emin Huseynov, director of Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, has been in contact with Markosyan, and tells AzadliqRadiosu (RFE/RL Azeri service) that Markosyan came to Baku in the early hours of 28 June, but was not permitted to go out of the airport. “Markosyan is dual citizen of America and Russia. She came to Baku with her Russian passport. Her documents are all in order.”

Elkhan Poluxov, head of the press office for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told AzadliqRadiosu that Markosyan did not have accreditation: “She sent her documents, presented herself. Bloomberg directors as well as Diana herself were told that her visit here would not be possible, the accreditation cannot go through – because problems may arise in accomodating her safety here. It was suggested that she be replaced by another journalist.”

Diana Markosyan told AzadliqRadiosu that she was told she will be deported to Istanbul at 8pm.

Photos taken by Markosyan have been published in newspapers such as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

on 18 April 2011 Swedish journalists Charlie Laprevote, My Rohwedder Street and Charlotta Wijkström were held and deported from Baku, having come there to film a documentary about freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.

Original in Azeri [RFE/RL]