Media workers must be protected both in their own countries and abroad, the Association recalled.

On Tuesday, the BRICS Journalists Association condemned the detention of Sputnik journalists in Baku Azerbaijan, on charges of alleged “espionage”.

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The Association’s concern over the incident was expressed in a letter from Ivan Melnikov, director of the Department for the Protection of Journalists’ Rights, addressed to Audrey Azoulay, director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The full text of the letter follows:

“In connection with the information about the violation of the rights of journalists of the International News Agency Russia Today — including searches and arbitrary arrests of journalists at the editorial office of the Sputnik radio station — I am sending you an appeal. Physical force was used unreasonably and unlawfully against journalists, and there was organized obstruction of their legitimate journalistic activities.

According to preliminary information, on June 30, 2025, representatives of the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan broke into the editorial office in Baku, after which they conducted a military-style operation against the journalists. Reporters who were lawfully carrying out their editorial duties and attempting to document events were also detained.

The BRICS Journalists Association expresses its concern to you regarding the ongoing events related to violations of journalists’ rights and the right to freedom of speech. I am sharing this information under your jurisdiction. I am informing you of the following:

In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Declaration on Mass Media and Human Rights, the Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the Protection of Journalists in Situations of Conflict and Tension, and other relevant norms of international law:

– Journalists and other media workers must be protected both in their own countries and abroad (Article 3 of the Declaration adopted at the 20th session of UNESCO on Oct. 28, 1978);

– While performing their professional duties, journalists are protected under the laws of all countries party to these conventions, and their arbitrary detention, the use of force against them, and obstruction of their professional activities are unacceptable.

I ask you to take measures and provide assistance to protect the rights of journalists under the current circumstances, to ensure the right to freedom of speech by condemning their persecution, and to take coordinated actions with international organizations to restore their violated rights and secure the immediate release of the detained correspondents.”

teleSUR/ JF

Source: BRICS Journalists Association

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