Azerbaijani experts criticize amendments to media law

Azerbaijan has prepared amendments to the law on mass media. They will allow, in particular, liquidating a mass media company, if it was attracted, twice within a year, to responsibility under a court decision. Experts are critical to this initiative; some of them treat it as unconstitutional.

Alesker Mamedli, a media expert, said that the proposed novelty is contrary to the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

According to his version, the proposed innovation will still further restrict the freedom of expression in Azerbaijan and will seriously degrade the country's international image and the chances for media to operate freely.

Rovshan Gadjibeili, the editor of the "Azadlyg" newspaper, believes that the amendments to the law on the media are directed against his edition.

"Our newspaper is under constant pressure. Fines imposed by courts, barriers to distribution and non-delivery to the edition of the proceeds from the sale of the newspaper have put us in a difficult position. Now, apparently, they facilitate the ways to finally close us," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"In general, these amendments will have no effect on the media. Nothing is left from the former independence of media. The vast majority of them are controlled by the authorities. Just a couple of them remain; and now they try to silence them by restrictive regulations," said Gadjibeili.

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