RWB downgrade Azerbaijan's position in the ranking of media freedom

The international journalistic organization "Reporters without Borders" (RWB) has published its regular annual "2014 World Press Freedom Index", in which Azerbaijan, along with Russia and the countries of Central Asia, have been put on the list of countries with unfavourable situation with the freedom of the press.

In the ranking, Azerbaijan occupies the 160th place, having dropped by 4 points compared with 2013; Armenia takes the 78th position, Georgia – the 84th place, and Russia – the 148th place (out of 180 countries).

"In the territory of the former Soviet Union, the most harmful regimes for the freedom of information are under little pressure of the international community. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are the most privileged countries in terms of pipeline networks. Moreover, these powers are wealthy enough to feel untouchable; they are in great demand because of their strategic weight. Therefore, so far, they silence – in their complete impunity – mass media and throw journalists behind bars," says the review posted on the website of the RWB.

"Over the last year, the country has dramatically increased the number of political prisoners, including journalists and bloggers. Today, nine journalists and three bloggers are kept in Azerbaijani jails; they are persecuted for the freedom of expression in the media and social networks," said Emin Guseinov, the Director of the Azerbaijani Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS).