"The government tries to suppress independent media and civil society at every opportunity"

The Azerbaijani press celebrates its 149th anniversary — a milestone that takes us back to the visionary efforts of Hasan bey Zardabi, who founded the first printed newspaper "Əkinçi" ("The Sower") in 1875. Zardabi’s pioneering initiatives sowed the seeds of Azerbaijani journalism, cultivating a legacy that has endured the oppressive climates of Tsarist Russia, Soviet rule, and the turbulent political landscape of modern Azerbaijan.

Traditionally, on the eve of the National Press Day, ASTNA talked about the state of the media and journalists over the past year with an expert on media issues, head of the media rights group Khalid Agaliyev.

In recent years, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has witnessed significant developments, with key players like Turkey actively participating in negotiations and military operations. Analyzing recent articles from Azerbaijani media outlets such as Redaktor.az, Metbuat.az, and Müsavat.com sheds light on Turkey's role in the conflict and its implications for the region.

On March 6, the police raided the office of “Toplum TV”, as well as the apartments of several employees of the site, where funds in the amount of 2,700, 3,100, 20,000 euros were found. A lawsuit was filed against the journalists Farid Ismailov, Mushfig Jabbar, Ali Zeinal, Ramil Babayev, Elmir Abbasov and Ilkin Amrahov under Article 206.3.2 (smuggling).