In Azerbaijan, newspaper "Azadlyg" faces threat of being closed

The opposition newspaper "Azadlyg" is given two weeks to pay off its debt in the amount of 12,000 US dollars in front of the publishing house "Azerbaijan". Otherwise, the newspaper will be closed. The edition office of the newspaper "Azadlyg" associates the situation with the desire of the authorities to close the newspaper, the deputy editor-in-chief states.

On June 14, the edition received a warning letter from the publishing house "Azerbaijan". This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Rakhim Gadjiev, the first deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Azadlyg".

According to him, the state press distribution company "Gasid" has refused to pay the debt to the edition in the amount of 44,000 US dollars. The company says it is unable to pay the debt, Rakhim Gadjiev explains.

The journalist believes that while the company "Gasid" and the publishing house "Azerbaijan" are state-owned organizations, then the amounts of debts could be offset between them.

Rakhim Gadjiev has noted that the newspaper "Azadlyg" is unable to develop because of the problems with advertising and distribution of issues.

"Companies are afraid to place our advertising because of possible problems with the authorities, and the distribution network is limited to its minimum," said Rakhim Gadjiev.

According to him, the edition office pays salaries to newspaper employees with delays. At present, the newspaper office once again has to rely only on readers' support and journalists' integrity.

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