German reporter’s work hindered by Nakhichevan authorities

PanARMENIAN.Net - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung German daily’s political observer Michael Ludwig was forced to discontinue a working trip to Nakhichevan, because of local authorities’ hindering his work.

As the reporter stated in a conversation with Turan news agency, he meant to prepare a material about Nakhichevan’s life in blockade on the sidelines of the project covering post-Soviet space regions.

Having secured an accreditation at Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the reporter headed for Nakhichevan on a familiarization tour. To make a trip to Batabat, he addressed to the executive authorities of Shakhbuz region from where he was directed to Nakhichevan Mejlis to receive permission.

At the main department on Nakhichevan affairs at Foreign Ministry, the reporter was questioned as to the purpose of his trip. On the following day, the journalist submitted a program of his visits, which was approved on condition that he would be accompanied by the representative of Foreign Ministry’s regional department.

The reporter resolved to discontinue his trip and return to Baku. “I’m sorry my activities were restricted. Those who interfered with my work have never heard of a free media,” the German reporter told Turan.

Commenting on the restriction of the reporter’s activities, a representative of Azeri Foreign Ministry cited the journalist’s failure to provide the purpose of his visit to Nakhichevan. However, Ludwig refuted the accusations, noting that he detailed the purpose of his visit to Nakhichevan while requesting an accreditation.