Recently, representative of “Peace, Democracy, Culture” NGO, head of the political department of the Azerbaijani “Obozrevatel” newspaper, Roman Temnikov, visited Stepanakert. He visited Karabagh with the invitation by the “Hayk Generation” youth NGO. He was invited within the framework of the program “Caucusas is Our Home”.
The Azeri journalist said that it was his first visit to Karabagh and he had very good impressions. According to “Karabagh Online” the journalist thought that he would not be treated fairly. “As you can see, I’m alive and healthy,” he said.
One day after the journalist’s visit, the board of the “Obozrevatel” newspaper had decided that, “such attitude contradicts the ethical norms of Azeri journalists, according to which it is forbidden to cooperate with the representatives of an unrecognized state.” It was decided to fire Temnikov.
Temnikov has also met with the chairman of the National Assembly of Karabagh. The chairman has told the Azeri journalist that the government of Karabagh is in favor of such visits, which undoubtedly will reduce the level of hostile relationships between the two people and will instill mutual trust. Meanwhile, he pitied that all the visits of Azeri journalists or public activists from Baku to Karabagh cause a lot of anger and are often considered as negative for the establishment of intimate ties between the two. They are often persecuted and oppressed. The same is happening with Temnikov.
During the conversation, the chairman of the NA of Karabagh clarified a few issues regarding the recent developments of the Karabagh conflict resolution for journalists. “There is not much hope for the conflict resolution based on Azerbaijan’s attitude.”