Azerbaijan one of the most censored countries in the world - CPJ
“During his time in office, Azerbaijani autocratic President Ilham Aliyev has consolidated power, and cracked down on independent andpro-opposition media outlets, non-governmental organizations, and opposition activists,” reads the report by Nina Ognianova, Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
The document titled “Systematic Attacks on Journalists in Russia and Other Post-Soviet States” was presented on October 4 before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the House Freedom of the Press Caucus, reflects on the alarming human rights record and restrictions on the journalists’ professional activities in Azerbaijan.
“This year alone, Azerbaijan imprisoned six journalists in addition to the five it was already holding the year before. Disturbingly, Azerbaijan is now extending its justice code abroad,” reads the report referring to the case of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin who was extradited from Belarus merely for reporting from Nagorno Karabakh and for criticizing Azeri government policies.
The report labels as “most disturbing” the case of Afgan Mukhtarli, a freelance journalist who contributed to the Berlin-based, independent news outlet, Meydan TV, and the London-based Institute of War and Peace Reporting. It is reminded that Mukhtarli was abducted from Tbilisi and forcefully brought to Azerbaijan. Before he disappeared, Mukhtarli had been investigating the assets of Azerbaijan's first family in Georgia, the journalist’s colleague Khadija Ismayilova told CPJ.