“I am shocked by the tragic deaths of Siraj Abishov and Maharram Ibrahimov. Journalists must be able to exercise their profession without risk to their personal safety,” said Audrey Azoulay in a statement posted on the official website of UNESCO.

“The two media professionals were on duty, travelling in a vehicle when an anti-tank mine exploded. The explosion killed Abishov and Ibrahimov as well as Arif Aliyev, a local district official. At least four other persons were injured in the blast.

Siraj Abishov was a camera operator working for Azerbaijan Television, and Maharram Ibrahimov was a journalist working for the Azerbaijan State News Agency.

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity,” the statement noted.