PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP GROUP FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION MISSION TO AZERBAIJAN
International Federation of journalists, Media Diversity Institute, Open society Foundations, Press Now, Reporters without borders, Worlds association of Newspapers and News Publishers.
In Azerbaijan journalists, bloggers and activists face serious and widespread systemic challenges, and forced to carry out their work in a climate of endemic impunity and under persistent pressure from authorities,
reads the preliminary statement of the mission.
The main problems for media in Azerbaijan are: impunity for those who kill or harass journalists and bloggers, State influence on media and absence of pluralism on broadcasting media, economic pressure of the state to printing media by means of adverts distributing, using of existing legislation for penalize critical voices, using of defamation, etc.
The Mission recommends to authorities:
- Immediate and unconditional release of journalists from prison,
- Initiate a thorough, prompt and independent investigation of all violence against journalists,
- Decriminalize defamation,
- Establish fair conditions for allocation of state advertising,
- Establish an independent broadcasting regulatory body,
- Reverse the ban prohibiting foreign entities from broadcasting on national frequencies,
- Invest in Internet infrastructure,
- Preserve and protect freedom online, etc.
`Finally we call on the international community particularly those countries with economic and political ties to Azerbaijan, to hold the government accountable for its freedom of expression record`,-
reads the statement.
Politics
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During his September 6-7 visit to Baku, Mr. Patrick Prior, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Chief of the Europe Eurasia Regional Center, met with Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to discuss U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral and security cooperation, reads a press release by the US Embassy to Azerbaijan.
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Today, September 7, 2024, the second picket in support of Igbal Abilov was held in The Hague (Netherlands) in front of the Embassy of Azerbaijan. The event was organized by Igbal's friends and colleagues. During the picket, protesters continued to collect signatures for the petition and called on Azerbaijan authorities to stop persecution and free Igbal. This is the second rally in support of Abilov in Europe.
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The Khatai district court of Baku today extended for another three months the arrest term of investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, arrested in the "Abzas Media case". His lawyer Rasul Jafarov informed Turan about it.
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American intelligence officials said on Friday that Russia is the pre-eminent and most active threat to influence the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, while Iran and China are also stepping up efforts, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
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