10:38, 24 February 2022

CPJ calls on President of Azerbaijan to abolish Law “On Media”

Sevindj Sadygova, the wife of Afghan Sadygov, holds the portraits of her husband at a protest action. Baku, February 9, 2021. Photo by Parvana Bayramova for the "Caucasian Knot"

The new Law “On Media” is aimed at restricting the activities of independent Azerbaijani media and it should be abolished, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) notes in its appeal to the President of Azerbaijan. The human rights defenders also called for the release of journalists Polad Aslanov and Afghan Sadygov.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on December 30, 2021, the Azerbaijani parliament adopted the Law “On Media”, which caused serious criticism from journalists and experts. The new law strengthened the government’s control over the media, Azerbaijani journalists say.

CPJ deputy executive director Robert Mahoney has sent a letter to Ilham Aliev expressing “concern over the growing threats to press freedom and the safety of journalists in Azerbaijan.”

According to the CPJ’s letter, the Law “On Media” significantly expands the list of grounds for closing and blocking media outlets.

The CPJ also expresses its concern about the fate of Polad Aslanov, the editor-in-chief of the “Xeberman.com” and “Press-az.com”, and Afghan Sadygov, the editor-in-chief of the “Azel.tv” portal, who “are imprisoned in retaliation for their journalistic activities.”

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 23, 2021 at 05:20 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent