Aflatun Amashov: 70 percent of the press engaged in racket in Azerbaijan

Today in Azerbaijan, 70% of the press editions are engaged in racketeering, 20-25% of the printed media are politicized, and only 5% are independent. This statement was made by Aflatun Amashov, Chairman of the Council for the Press of Azerbaijan.

In his interview to the APA Agency Mr Amashov has reported that these days the Council for the Press will start monitoring of more than 100 newspapers. "After we have clarified which of the newspapers and who of the authors are breaching the professional ethics, we shall make their names public," Mr Chairman has promised, noting however that he is against arrests of journalists.

Chairman Amashov has expressed dissatisfaction with the work of law enforcement bodies in the sphere of struggle against violations of the journalistic ethics: "There's no secret that certain newspapers are backed up by bureaucrats, therefore, the law enforcement keep aside from them. No doubt, huge money is in play here."

Besides, according to Aflatun Amashov, a number of editions are engaged in forging attacks on their employees.

Mr Amashov has also disagreed with the opinion that there is no freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan, however, he has noted that "so far the Azerbaijan journalism fails to fulfil its social mission. The country lacks independent press."

First of all, it is related with mentality, relations "journalist-bureaucrat" and poor economic situation with the press, Aflatun Amashov has stated.