Azerbaijan Remains among Countries with Large Number of Convicted Journalists

Paris / 04/18/19 / Turan: The organization in defense of the press Reporters without Borders announced the traditional index of press freedom in the world. The index shows the state of the press and journalists in various countries, the possibilities for free receipt, expression and dissemination of information.

The report notes that in the space of the former USSR, the situation with freedom of the press continues to be difficult. In Russia and Azerbaijan, the largest number of journalists and bloggers are in prison. It is especially difficult for investigative journalists.

This year, Azerbaijan is ranked 166 in the world, dropping by three points compared with last year.

Unrelenting war against the last critical voices - that is the title of the report on Azerbaijan.

"Not content with crushing all forms of pluralism, President Ilham Aliyev has been waging a relentless war against his remaining media critics since 2014. Independent journalists and bloggers are jailed on absurd grounds if they do not first yield to harassment, beatings, blackmail or bribes. Independent media, such as Zerkalo and Azadlig, have been stifled economically. Others, such as Radio Azadlig, have been closed by force. The main independent news websites are blocked. In a bid to silence those who continue to resist in exile, the authorities harass their family members still in Azerbaijan.

The regime has also exported its repression by having journalists detained in Georgia and Ukraine, and sued in France. It is only under pressure that the regime retreats - pressure that is needed more than ever," the report on Azerbaijan says. -02D-