Sadigov wrote about it on his Facebook page.
Sadigov noted that there are 3 applicants: “USAID announced a grant program worth $2.4 million a few months ago. As I know, IREX and Internews companies are applicants. The third applicant is Khadija Ismayilova. She presented a project on the development of investigative journalism.
He noted that smear campaign against him and Media Rights Institute (MRI) conducted by Khadija Ismayilova is related with this program: “I am sure that this smear campaign is based on personal interests.”
Sadigov said that of IREX and Internews win the program they would continue cooperate with MRI: “I consider that Khadija Ismayilova is conducting a campaign against us to get a chance for the program. However, this is one of the last ways in the honest competition.”
The US Embassy in Azerbaijan has earlier issued a statement on the situation over a grant program announced by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the development of independent media in Azerbaijan. The statement said that there were no irregularities with the proposal application process, or the collection of proposals.
The proposals for the program were submitted from May 21 till July 7.
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