Participants of the round table dedicated to the World Press Freedom Day are concerned about the serious increase in pressure on media from the authorities

Baku/04.05.22/Turan: On May 3, on World Press Freedom Day, the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) held a conference on the state of freedom of speech in Azerbaijan with  participation of journalists, public figures and media experts.

The speakers discussed the situation with freedom of speech, touched upon the issue of pressure on independent journalists, bloggers and activists, ISBR reports.

Among the speakers were the director of the Turan news agency Mehman Aliyev, member of the National Council of Democratic Forces, publicist Tofig Yagublu, blogger Mehman Huseynov, political activist and writer Ilkin Rustmzade, executive director of the ISBR Emin Huseynov, journalist Chingiz Sultansoy, TV presenter Sevinj Osmangyzy, economic observer Gubad Ibadoglu, human rights activist Avtandil Mammadov and others.

A society without a free press definitely cannot be free, former prisoner of conscience publicist Tofig Yagublu said in his speech. You can give the example of Russia. There is no freedom of speech in the country, and dictator Putin, taking advantage of this, dragged the people into the war and created serious problems for the whole world.

Chingiz Sultansoy, a journalist living in exile abroad, noted that the main problem of the country is the low quality of education and the low activity of society. The authorities, taking advantage of the passivity of the population, are increasing pressure on the press and society. Journalists and activists in exile need to be more active. If Ukraine wins the war and Putin is forced out of power, a wave of democratization will begin in the world, which will vitally need more freedom of the press.

Journalist Avtandil Mammadov touched upon the issue of pressure on journalists in exile. According to him, in recent years, pressure on journalists outside the country has increased, attempts on the lives of critics in exile have become more frequent, as well as attempts to use structures such as Interpol to force the extradition of irreconcilable voices to Azerbaijan.

Investigative journalist Mehman Huseynov also noted that the situation with freedom of speech in Azerbaijan has reached a critical state. In recent months, there have been increasing threats against employees of the Sancaq anti-corruption investigative project. Our investigative journalists, including myself, are illegally required to stop anti-corruption investigations, this became especially evident after the start of the war in Ukraine.

Writer Ilkin Rustamzade expressed his concern about low-quality propaganda on social networks, which seriously harms the formation and development of critical thinking among the younger generation. In this sense, TikTok creates a serious problem, where mostly low-quality, meaningless materials are posted. The Azerbaijani authorities are interested in the low level and lack of education of the population, especially the youth.

Director of the Turan agency Mehman Aliyev noted that the government, as in previous years, continues to systematically eradicate freedom of the press. In recent years, policy in this direction has yielded depressing results. According to Aliyev, the most serious threat should be considered the new repressive media law adopted at the end of 2021. The authorities show that they are not interested in creating a normal atmosphere of cooperation with society. International organizations also avoid cooperation with independent media and journalistic organizations, and in most cases are complicit in the imitation of the reform of the information society in Azerbaijan, which is carried out within the limited boundaries predetermined by the Azerbaijani authorities.

Economist Gubad Ibadoglu emphasized that today the authorities in the country have an almost complete monopoly over information. This has a negative effect on the free press and contributes to the corrupt arbitrariness of those in power. The lack of an independent judiciary also severely limits freedom of information and the press. The decrease in the number of free media and independent journalists from year to year leads to a flourishing development of corruption. Ibadoglu is also surprised that some international organizations, instead of criticism, unreasonably and sometimes publicly point to positive developments in the fight against corruption, while in reality there is a complete regression and the situation is getting worse every day.

Journalist Sevinj Osmangyzy said that the world is seriously discussing the laws adopted in Russia to ban the use of certain expressions during hostilities. However, the law on media adopted in Azerbaijan can be considered a more serious step towards the suppression of media freedom. However, the world community did not react properly. The full effect of this law can be seen already in the second half of this year. As never before, the independent media have a historical responsibility in preserving and developing the socio-political consciousness and critical thinking of the country's population.

Human rights activists and journalist Emin Huseynov added that at the root of the problems raised by the speakers is the lack of an effective state administration that has subjugated the judiciary and the legislature. Obviously, the main source of the country's problems is corruption and kleptocrats in power, who, by destroying the free press, independent NGOs and democratic institutions, are trying to hide their illegal enrichment. Continuing to remain in power for many years, state officials remain unaccountable to the main and only source of power - the people of Azerbaijan. Independent media and investigative journalists exposing corruption will be the main target of the Azerbaijani authorities in the coming months and years. “I propose to jointly hold the following public discussions on this important topic on July 22, 2022, on the National Press Day of Azerbaijan,” summed up Emin Huseynov.

The discussions were broadcast live and are available for detailed review via the link https://youtu.be/32lBwQDzwnc?t=205