What is behind the amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses concerning journalists?

Baku/17.02.23/Turan: Today, the Azerbaijani Parliament adopted in the first reading a draft of a number of amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses relating to the activities of the media and journalists.

The proposed innovations provide for a fine of 1,000 to 1,500 manats for officials and 2,500 to 3,500 manats for legal entities  for asserting a person's guilt without a court decision.

For disclosing the source of information in cases not provided for by law, fines of 200-300 manats are established for individuals, 500-700 manats for officials, and 2,000-3,000 manats for legal entities.

Commenting on these innovations to Turan, Alesker Mammadli, an expert in the field of media law, said that it is about punishing journalists for disclosing a source of information that did not want to be named.

However, this issue should be considered as a violation of journalistic ethics rather than rights, and it is wrong to establish punitive measures for media subjects. The draft amendments also provide for penalties for unlawful interference in the professional activities of journalists in the form of a fine of 300-600 manats. In addition, if a journalist's request is not answered within the period established by law, then a fine of 300-500 manats will also be due for this.

According to another expert in the field of media law, Khalid Agaliyev, these issues were previously reflected in the administrative legislation. “Now the same thing is reflected in the Code of Administrative Offenses in a different, more extensive version,” Agaliyev said. He believes that these two amendments are intended to form an opinion on the care and protection of journalists. ---06B---