On Tuesday, the Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety unveiled its annual report, entitled “Journalist Safety and Press Freedom in Azerbaijan.” The report consists of 7 pages, including 6 different sections and pictures. According to the report, in 2006 press freedom in Azerbaijan deteriorated and attacks against journalists increased. (23-JAN-07)
Placed on website by HRH Baku/Shahla Ismailova
However, on a positive note, unlike in 2005, no journalists were murdered. Impunity for attacks against journalists continued to be a major problem—not a single person was brought to justice for any of the attacks on journalists in 2006. This has cultivated an environment of self-censorship among journalists. Libel and insult remained criminal offenses, despite calls from numerous international organizations to have these laws transferred to Azerbaijan’s Civil Code. These laws were used to imprison and fine countless journalists.
Media institutions were confronted with colossal fines, real estate disputes and legal problems in 2006. They also faced financial hardships; while in the western world advertisements are the lifeblood of press agencies’ income, companies in Azerbaijan remained reluctant to place ads in the independent press, because they feared government retribution.
Landmark events in Azerbaijan’s media sector in 2006 included the brutal attack against Bahaddin Haziyev, the Nov. 24 closure of ANS, Azerbaijan’s most independent TV channel, and simultaneous controversial forcible eviction of numerous press institutions from the Azadlig Newspaper building in Baku’s center, and convicted former Interior Ministry official Haji Mamedov’s confession that his criminal gang murdered Monitor Magazine Editor Elmar Huseynov in March 2005 at the order of former Economic Development Minister Farhad Aliyev.
