Media Rights Institute resumed monitoring the situation with freedom of expression

In 2015-2016 the situation with the freedom of expression in Azerbaijan deteriorated further, according to the annual report of the Media Rights Institute (MRI), whose activities were suspended in 2014.  The head of the MRI Rashid Hajili said that he decided to resume monitoring of the situation of freedom of expression and publication reports on this.

So, since the beginning of 2016 7 well-known journalists and bloggers were freed from long-term prisoners fully or conditionally. However, another 12 people were arrested for the use of their right to freedom of expression, and remain in prison. Some are serving long sentences. In particular, in the jails are  Ilkin Rustamzade, Abdul Abilov, Seymour Hazy, Faraj Karimov, Rashad Ramazanov, Fuad Gahramanli, Araz Guliyev, Nijat Aliyev, Tofig Hasanov, Arshad Ibrahimov, Fikrat Faramazoglu and Faig Amirli. With regard  to the journalists- bloggers Mehman Huseynov, Gulu Maharramli, Elchin Hasanov, Akram Aylisli, Elnur Maharram  and Shirin Jafari, as well as the writer Akram Aylisli investigation continues.

Journalists covering the meetings of public interest and actions are subjected to pressure. In particular, this applies to the representatives of media organizations criticizing the government: Turan agency, the newspapers "Azadlig", and Meydan TV.

There is not  a favorable environment for the work of journalists, known for  their critical publications. They are periodically subjected to threats, psychological pressure.

 The  journalist  investigations  on physical and psychological pressure on journalists in recent years remain in a deadlock; the murder of journalist Elmar Huseynov and Rafiq Tagi have not been disclosed.

To  intimidate  journalists continues the practice of their interrogations. Several journalists  have been warned in the Prosecutor General's Office of their publication.

Summoned for questioning to the Prosecutor General, Scting chief editor of "Azadlig" newspaper Rahim Hajiyev, head of site qaynar.info Zahir Azamat, journalist Anar Niftaliyev, cooperating with the "Meydan TV" journalists Natig Javadli, Aytaj Ahmadov and others were summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office.

There is still a criminal responsibility for libel and insult.

Despite the fact that the arrests under the Article 147 (defamation) and 148 (insult) are  carried out rarely, they are widely used in a criminal prosecution. These articles are assigned alternative penalties - fines and community service. In 2016  were filed at least 24 lawsuits for defamation.

The  situation of freedom of expression in the field of television and radio, where

intensification of political, ideological and financial control, has deteriorated.

public broadcasting company only formally independent, because the government controls the appointed members of the board, general manager and other responsible persons.

News Public Broadcasting policy does not differ from state  television  channel AzTV, which is a propaganda mouthpiece for the government.

In July the National Television and Radio, without a legal basis suspended broadcasting ANS TV for a month, and at the same time appealed to the court to revoke the license ANS, and  obtained it.

The MRI considers the closure of ANS a typical example of restrictions on freedom of expression.-06D-