Azerbaijan: Turkish TV channel should be penalized

Mamed Aliyev, the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Turkey, stated on July 24 that facts mentioned in the STAR’s television broadcast were nothing but lie and fabrication, and that the opposition Azerbaijanian party "Musavat" was responsible for giving this information to the channel. The television channel has been disseminating misinformation and for that it should be punished, held the ambassador.

The Azeri diplomat told PRIMA his embassy has already filed a complaint with a Turkish organization which supervises electronic mass media in this country. If the television channel fails to retract, official Baku will demand suspension of STAR television channel, he added.

On April 21 of this year, president Aliyev collapsed during a public speech at the Palace of the Republic after suffering a drop in blood pressure. According to official sources, the president sustained a rib fracture and received some bruises on his back as a result of falling backwards on to the floor. He was then flown to Gulhane hospital in Ankara for a medical examination and treatment. In the past few months the president continued to receive medical treatment at home. He resumed his duties in late June. But on July 9 the president again left for Turkey, and since then he has been undergoing treatment there.