OCCRP Editor Drew Sullivan refuted the claim saying the process was entirely internal to the organization, which is a network of independent, not-for-profit investigative journalism centers stretching from Europe to Central Asia.
Sullivan also pointed out that while HETQ is an OCCRP member organization, Baghdasaryan is not a board member.
“The ballots for the person of the year were solicited from about 60 reporters in 20 countries," Mr. Sullivan said. "To claim inside information that Edik Baghdasaryan somehow controls OCCRP policy is both wrong and self-serving.”
According to News.Az, Muradov said “The investigation revealed that this decision which aimed to discredit the Azerbaijani president was made directly at the initiative of Baghdasaryan.”
This is not true, said Sullivan.
“The only person who discredited the Azerbaijani president is himself through his actions. We are just reporting the facts,” he said.
