In Baku, oppositional newspaper "Azadlyg" faces threat of its suspension, deputy editor-in-chief claims

In Azerbaijan, the opposition newspaper "Azadlyg" (Freedom) once again faces the threat of suspension of its release because of financial problems. The edition office owes money to the publishing house "Azerbaijan", while the press distribution company "Gasid" still fails to transfer the proceeds from the sale of newspaper issues.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 22 "Azadlyg" employees held a picket in front of the Baku office of the state company for press distribution "Gasid", demanding to repay the debts of the distributor to the newspaper's editorial board.

"Our financial difficulties are politically motivated. Our newspaper is actually the only opposition print media that dares to criticize the vices of power and report about corruption among top-ranking officials and flagrant violations of human rights," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Rakhim Gadjiev, the first deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Azadlyg".

He believes that the authorities intend to use economic methods to strangle the newspaper.

"Last year, we had to pay 65,000 manats (83,000 US dollars) through the so-called defamation lawsuits in courts. Besides, they constantly create problems with regard to the sale of our newspaper issues: they prohibited selling of newspapers in the metro, and street distributors are persecuted," Rakhim Gadjiev has stated.

According to the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper, the edition office intends to file a lawsuit against the company "Gasid"; however, they do not believe in justice.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.