The current series of attacks of Azerbaijani authorities on mass media causes serious alarms not only in the country, but also outside of its borders. The list of forms of pressure, such as assassination of journalists, imprisonment of reporters, huge amounts of fines from independent media outlets, attempts to evict the occupants of Azadlig building , seems to be added one more significant point – ban the BBC from its domestic airwaves, a move that is designed to impose an information blockade on the ex-Soviet state. (30-OCT-06)
Written by Shahla Ismailova/HRH Baku, on the basis of materials from the Eurasia Insight, Day Az, TURAN Information Agency, Institute of Reporter Safety and Freedom; photos by Shahla Ismailova, HRH data base of photos.
National and international media watchdog organizations are expressing alarm about restrictions placed on foreign news broadcasts in Azerbaijan and recent attention focused by the government on independent television company ANS. The decision of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council (NTRBC) of 13 October 2006 is to stop local radio stations Antenn and ANS and the Azerbaijan state radio from retransmitting BBC, Voice of America and Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe programs from 1 January 2007. The ban also affects Voice of America TV programs.
BBC World Service
Firdevs Robinson, editor of the BBC World Service’s Central Asia and Caucasus Service stated “we hope the implementation of this decision will not result in our programmes being interrupted. If it does, it could be seen as another example of harassment of independent media in Azerbaijan.”
Reporters Without Borders
The Reporters Without Borders thinks this decision is targeted at international media whose independence the Azerbaijan government seems to fear. The National Council for Television and Radio is unfortunately under the control of the political authorities, which seem to want to limit the influence of western media, above all. The 13 October decision does not affect Russian stations (ORT and RTR) and Turkish ones (TRT and STV) that are less critical of the Azerbaijan government.
Comments of national experts 
Political analyst Rasim Musabekov (on the right) believes that the commotion over taxes and a special broadcast license indicates that the government wants to take control of ANS to eliminate dissenting voices from electronic media. “Azerbaijan’s political power fears electronic media organizations which are out of its control. Therefore, they want to get rid of alternative mass media or take them under its control. They follow the path of the Russian Federation,” said Musabekov, citing the example of the Russian television company NTV, an occasionally outspoken government critic, which later became a state-controlled broadcaster.
According to the Media Rights Institute Rashid Hajily, a statement by the National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) that western radio stations stop broadcasting on the frequencies of Azerbaijani TV and radio companies is illegal. The law “On radio and television broadcasting” does not prohibit the re-broadcasting foreign TV and radio channels. Article 14 of the Law “On TV and radio broadcasting” states that a license for broadcasting in Azerbaijan is necessary only if all programs of some radio or TV station are broadcast. However, in this particular case the talk is only about the broadcasting of some programs. At the same time, the law does not prohibit local radio stations from broadcasting the programs of other channels”, Hajily said.
According to him, the statement from the head of NTRC about the suspension of the broadcasting of only western radio and TV programs is political. “If this is not the case, why didn´t NTRC demand licenses from the numerous the Russian Federation, Turkish and other TV and radio channels that also broadcast on local frequencies?” Hajily said.
President Aliyev ignores international criticism
Last week Azerbaijan´s president Ilham Aliyev received a group of foreign journalists accredited in the Russian Federation. Aliyev answered questions concerning Azerbaijan´s foreign and home policy, Azerbaijan´s economic development, regional cooperation, perspectives of settlement the Karabakh conflict.
Responding to a request from one journalist to comment on statements made by the international organization “Reporters without Borders” criticizing the freedom of speech situation in Azerbaijan, Aliyev said he did not attach great significance to this. According he refuted the rating in which Azerbaijan´s freedom of speech level is noted 135th in the world. “Azerbaijan does not have such problems and develops successfully,” Aliyev said.
