Analysts assess Azerbaijan's place in RWB's press freedom index

Despite its progress from the 167th to 154th place in the World Press Freedom Index, Azerbaijan remains among the countries with a non-free press.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that 38 PACE deputies expressed concern about the growth of violence and threats against journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.

"Practically the entire country's media sector is under official control ... Not a single independent TV or radio source is broadcast in the country; all the printed newspapers notable for their critical position have been closed," the study performed by the "Reporters Without Borders" (RWB) has stated.

Authorities are trying to suppress the remaining independent media; and the journalists who resist the pressure are imprisoned on absurd pretexts, the report says.

Khalid Agaliev, the head of the Media Rights Group, has noted that Azerbaijan continues convicting journalists to long terms on dubious charges.

According to the Union "For Freedom of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners", as of February 21, 2022, those kept in jail were Afghan Sadygov, the editor-in-chief of the "Azel.Tv" website; Polad Aslanov, the head of the "xeberman.com" website; Elchin Mamed, the head of the "yukselis.info" website; Bakhruz Aliev, the editor of the "nia.az", and Aslan Gurbanov, a blogger.

Rovshan Gadjibeili, the head of the NGO "Democratic School of Journalism", believes that the relative improvement in Azerbaijan's position in the RWB's index "is by no means an indicator of any improvement in the media freedom."