Media freedom in Azerbaijan

Media freedom in Azerbaijan is severely curtailed.^[1]^[2]^[3] Most Azerbaijanis receive their information from mainstream television, which is unswervingly pro-government and under strict government control. According to a 2012 report of the NGO "Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS)" Azerbaijani citizens are unable to access objective and reliable news on human rights issues relevant to Azerbaijan and the population is under-informed about matters of public interest.^[4]

Reporters without Borders ranks Azerbaijan at the 167th place (between Egypt and Bahrain) out of over 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index, with a score of 58.48.^[3] Freedom House ranks Azerbaijan as "Not Free".^[2] In 2015, Azerbaijan had the largest number of journalists imprisoned in Europe and Central Asia.^[5]

The authoritarian Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan use a range of measures to restrict media freedom within the country. Opposition and independent media outlets and journalists have their access to print-houses and distribution networks limited, or can find themselves facing defamation charges and crippling fines and are subject to intimidation tactics, including imprisonment on fabricated charges.^[6] The government restricts public access to information about the owners and shareholders of Azerbaijani companies.^[7]

^ "Azerbaijan: Prosecution of independent journalists underscores souring US-Azerbaijani relations". Eurasianet. 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Azerbaijan: Freedom on the Net 2021 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
^ ^a ^b "Azerbaijan : Hope quickly dashed | Reporters without borders". RSF. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
^ "Semi-annual Azerbaijan freedom of expression report, January 01 – July 01, 2012" (PDF; 3,0 MB). Retrieved 21 February 2013
^ "Baku 2015: Press freedom, Azerbaijan, and the European Games". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
^ 10 Most Censored Countries. CPJ. Retrieved 20 February 2013
^ "'Official Partners' of Azerbaijan's COP29 Climate Summit Linked To Ruling Aliyev Family and Their Inner Circle". OCCRP. 2024.

[1] "Azerbaijan: Prosecution of independent journalists underscores souring US-Azerbaijani relations". Eurasianet. 2024.

[:1-2] "Azerbaijan: Freedom on the Net 2021 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2022-02-21.

[:2-3] "Azerbaijan : Hope quickly dashed | Reporters without borders". RSF. Retrieved 2022-02-21.

[4] "Semi-annual Azerbaijan freedom of expression report, January 01 – July 01, 2012" (PDF; 3,0 MB). Retrieved 21 February 2013

[5] "Baku 2015: Press freedom, Azerbaijan, and the European Games". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2022-02-21.

[6] 10 Most Censored Countries. CPJ. Retrieved 20 February 2013

[7] "'Official Partners' of Azerbaijan's COP29 Climate Summit Linked To Ruling Aliyev Family and Their Inner Circle". OCCRP. 2024.

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