Press Council Initiated Blocking of Websites - Ikram Rahimov

Baku / 15.11.17 / Turan: The leaders of a number of news websites announced their blocking on the territory of Azerbaijan by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies on the basis of an appeal by the Press Council. In particular, it is reported about the blocking of Realliq.info, realliq.az, NIA.az, neytral.az, politika.az, vediinfo.az, obyektiv.org, sonolay.org, 24saat.org, ulus.az, qanunxeber.az, infoaz.org, xalqinsesi.com and aztoday.az. In Azerbaijan, access to these websites is now possible only through proxy servers.

The websites are going to jointly defend their rights. The editor-in-chief of the website Realliq.info Ikram Rahimov has been appointed their contact person for public relations. He told Turan the websites were blocked because of their criticism of the Press Council's activities and their publications in defense of political prisoners. The editors intend to hold a video press conference on November 16.

The Press Council and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies have not commented on the situation.

Earlier this spring, the Electronic Security Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies blocked the websites of Radio Azadlig, Meydan.TV, Turan.TV, azadliq.info, and the Azerbaijan Saaty program. Subsequently, the court approved this decision. Representatives of the websites filed an appeal. -06D--