Release of Arrested Editor
interview from ANS Online

HOST: Ganira Pashayeva

GUEST: Rauf Arifoglu - Chief Editor of Yeni Musavat newspaper

QUESTION: How do you feel? You seem to have lost weight.

ANSWER: I feel well. As for your observation concerning me losing my weight, yes, I looked at the mirror when leaving the isolation ward of the Ministry for National Security and noticed that I really did lose some weight.

QUESTION: How’s your stomach? You lawyers spread alarming news about your health. Did they release you due to the state of your health?

ANSWER: My stomach is much better in comparison with that I had before my being put in the isolation ward. Because during the time I spent in the ward, I found some time to rest. I also took medications that almost made the pain go away. I ate in accordance with strict regime. I benefited from this as well. I was finally medically examined after French and Italian ambassadors visited me in my cell. They said my stomach was well. I had two therapeutist examinations per week at the request of the ward leadership and my own. Now I’m well.

QUESTION: When you were arrested, the ex-president Abulfaz Elchibey died. When you were released, died famous composer Tofig Guliyev. It turns out that seizing and releasing you are fateful?

ANSWER: I think so too. It is mostly attributed to the seizing part of the case. Those, who arrested me, should feel guilty. Those tow persons played a great role in Azerbaijan’s culture and politics. May they rest in peace.

QUESTION: 44 days are not that small period. How did you spend your time there in the ward?

ANSWER: I didn’t know how many days I would spend there and this is why I didn’t make any plans. I found some time to pray, wrote a book. I have some notes for publication. I had read newspapers and sent orders to my newspaper.

QUESTION: As far as I know, some 15 articles of you were published during your stay in the ward. Hos did you manage to pass them to newspapers?

ANSWER: That’s very easy.

QUESTION: How easy?

ANSWER: Let me not to say that because I could need it in my next visit to the isolation ward of the Ministry for National Security. I thank the ward’s governing body and officers for showing concern about me. It was the first time when I saw a state structure where bribery hasn’t taken deep roots yet. They checked me very seriously each time I met with my lawyer. I had several articles published per week. The Public Prosecutor’s Office was very concerned with the way I was passing my notes to the outer world. They checked my pockets, whereas they had to check my head. I don’t want to say how. The accusations laid down against me still remain. I could visit that place again.

QUESTION: When you were there, rumours were being spread that they gave you special medications thus trying to influence your psychics.

ANSWER: Can you feel that right now? These are only rumours.

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Posted October 11, 2000 © Eurasianet
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