Azerbaijani journalists predict continued control over media after Gasanov's dismissal

After Ali Gasanov has been removed from heading the "ideological sphere" of Azerbaijan, the authorities' interference in the work of the media will not stop; however, the form of control will be less stringent, the journalists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 29, the president of Azerbaijan made structural changes in his administration. A loud resignation was the dismissal of Ali Gasanov, the "chief country's censor", an assistant to the president on socio-political issues. His division was disbanded; and a new one – on political parties and the legislative power – was set up, headed by Adalyat Veliev, a former theatre director and deputy minister of culture.

During his long work as the head of the socio-political division of the presidential administration, as well as an assistant to the head of state, Ali Gasanov, has built a control system over the media community, civil sector and political parties, Emin Guseinov, the director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Security (IRFS), told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

At the same time, he is sure that after Gasanov's dismissal, the authorities' interference in the work of the media will not stop.

"The brutal dispersal of protest actions in October and November, and protesters' mass arrests have demonstrated no hope for any radical reforms of the political system. It will retain its authoritarian essence. However, it is possible that some corrections will be made to the information policy; and the authorities will reject their explicit dirty technologies," Mr Guseinov has concluded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 4, 2019 at 00:08 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.