Ramiz Mehdiyev is trying to protect himself from the press, which he himself created

Baku/09.02.21/Turan: The Press and Information Department of the National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) appealed to the media with another "reminder of the main mission of journalists", which is not to spread slander and lies "at someone's order."

The department reports on the 49-year tireless state activity of the President of ANAS Ramiz Mehdiyev, highly appreciated by Presidents Heydar Aliyev and Ilham Aliyev, who awarded Mehdiyev with state awards.

Today, holding the post of President of ANAS, Ramiz Mehdiyev is faithful to the line of President I. Aliyev, continues to carry out presidential orders, the appeal says.

The Department of Press and Information of ANAS, without naming the media, draws attention to slanderous publications, the authors  the aim of which  is to tarnish R. Mehdiyev, show “unprofessionalism”, do not observe the principles of objectivity and show disrespect for readers.

Unlike previous statements on September 2020, this text is not signed by Ramiz Mehdiyev; it does not contain threats to journalists and the media, and it has been written in a friendly tone.

However, there is no doubt that the appeal was made by decree of Ramiz Mehdiyev, who has repeatedly published his political statements on the official website of ANAS.

This time, Mehdiyev's activity can be explained by the scandal around the Baku Steel Company, whose owner Rasim Mammadov was arrested by the State Security Service on charges of embezzling 42 million manats. The press calls this enterprise the property of Mehdiyev, despite Mammadov's statements that the plant belongs only to him.

It is obvious that Ramiz Mehdiyev is concerned about the growth of publications in which his name is mentioned in a corruption context.

Commenting on this appeal, the director of the Turan agency Mehman Aliyev noted, “Just when Ramiz Mehdiyev was heading the presidential administration and overseeing the ideology a mortal blow was dealt to the professional media in Azerbaijan. They were replaced by low-quality media specializing in slander, deceiving public opinion, and creating a hostile atmosphere in society. Today this vicious media model boomerangs on the reputation of Mehdiyev himself," Aliyev said. —0—