Attempts to Stifle Azadlig Do Not Stop - Editor

The editor of the newspaper Azadlig Rahim Hajili said in an interview that the newspaper is still published exclusively by the courage of its employees.

"It is already mid-December, and employees have not received wages for July. The newspaper sees its mission in the service of freedom and justice, while the authorities aim to destroy the Azadlig, which on these days turns 25 years old."

For many years, the newspaper was subjected to various forms of pressure, court fines, and detentions of staff members, who were kidnapped and beaten.

There is no doubt that the amendments to the law on the media are aimed at the pursuit of Azadlig, said Hajili.

Government pressure is due to the objective presentation of facts and events in the country. However, it does not suit the government.

In 2006 the newspaper was expelled from its office, and its columnist and then his brother, the chief editor were arrested. Two employees were stabbed and forced to emigrate.

The year 2014 was one of the worst when the brother of an employee of the newspaper Natig Adilov, the head of the department of the newspaper Seymour Hazi and Khalid Garayev were arrested.

All this takes place against the background of financial pressures and serious obstacles in the matter of distribution. In October 2013 the authorities banned the sale of the newspaper in the subway and on the streets, and the state company distributor Gasid refuses to pay for the copies sold. "As a result, we do not get enough money each month for 45,000 copies of the newspaper, in the year it is more than 500 thousand copies. As a result, today the debt of Gasid to the newspaper is 69 thousand manat," said the editor.

Hajili also noted that in recent years the authorities have blocked cooperation of the paper with the State Foundation for the Media. With no reason the Foundation ceased to finance projects of the newspaper.

At the same time, Azadlig is a recognized authority in the world struggle for democratic values. Thus, the newspaper was awarded the "Index on Censorship".

In recent years, lawsuits for defamation and hefty fines have been another lever to force the newspaper to silence. With great difficulty, they managed to pay these fines. It was after this that the State Foundation for the Media deprived the newspaper of financial assistance in the amount of 20 thousand manat.

As for the future of the newspaper, Rahim Hajili believes in the continuation of its activities. The newspaper has always been a supporter of the principles declared by its founder Najaf Najafov, and provided the reader with objective and honest information. In spite of the difficulties, the staff of the newspaper continues its mission and believes in the victory of light ideals, emphasized the editor. -04D-