Reporters Without Borders has released the Press Freedom Index for 2024: Azerbaijan is in one of the last places

Europe and Central Asia: the pernicious political influence of the Kremlin – this is how Reporters Without Borders titled the regional report of the Press Freedom Index for 2024.

The situation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has deteriorated: press freedom is not guaranteed, and the media are increasingly being used to spread disinformation. Russia (162nd place) continues its crusade against independent journalism. More than 1,500 journalists left the country after the invasion of Ukraine.

The list of journalists and media outlets labeled by the Government as “foreign agents” or “undesirable” continues to grow, and journalists continue to be subjected to unjustified arrests. Only two states compete with Russia in this zone: Belarus (167th place), whose regime persecutes journalists under the pretext of fighting “extremism”, and Turkmenistan (175th place), where the president, who has unlimited powers, prohibits any independent information.

Georgia shows a very noticeable decline (103rd place), which has dropped by 26 positions: the ruling party in it maintains the polarization of society, cultivates rapprochement with Moscow and pursues a policy increasingly hostile to freedom of the press.

In Azerbaijan (164th place) there is also a drop in all indicators, especially political ones, due to the wave of repression against the media on the eve of the presidential elections. “The Azerbaijani authorities have destroyed any semblance of pluralism and since 2014 they have been waging a merciless war against any remaining critics.  Almost the entire media sector is under official control, and State television is the most accessible source of information. There is not a single independent TV or radio in the country, and all print critical publications are closed. Most independent news sites, such as Azadliq and Meydan TV, are subject to government censorship and are based abroad.

The authorities are trying to suppress the last of the remaining independent media and journalists. The latter’s access to information is limited, and government agencies refuse to answer their questions.

The heads of media regulatory agencies, as well as federations of journalists, are appointed by the Government. The authorities use pro-government media to publish compromising material against government critics.

Over the past 20 years, media legislation has become more repressive, and the law on “mass media”, which came into force in February 2022, legalizes censorship. Several other laws affecting the media also violate the country’s international obligations regarding freedom of speech and the press. In addition, any social media user who criticizes the government on platforms such as Facebook or YouTube is severely punished.

Cooperation with foreign donors has been prohibited since 2014. Since the government controls the advertising sector, independent media cannot survive. In turn, pro-government media receive cash grants and official subsidies. The authorities openly bribe journalists who side with them by giving them apartments or other material goods.

Journalists who resist harassment, blackmail or attempts at bribery are thrown into prison under absurd pretexts. Over the past 20 years, no official or police officer has ever been punished for hitting or insulting a journalist.

As a rule, while under the supervision of security forces, journalists cannot guarantee the protection of their sources. In an attempt to rein in journalists who have left the country, the Baku regime is harassing their remaining relatives and friends or even directly threatening them in Europe, the report says.