Azeri gov’t ‘not opposed’ to libel law
A senior Azerbaijani official has said the authorities were not
opposed to the adoption of a libel law, but relevant groundwork
should be created in the country first.
Vugar Aliyev, who heads the Presidential Administration section for work with the media, said adopting the Law on Defamation requires economic independence of the local media, improving journalists’ skills and minimized politicizing of the press. "Adoption of the law is not far off," Aliyev told a conference, "Defamation and freedom of expression in Azerbaijan," organized in Baku on Monday by the Council of Europe’s local office and media watchdog Press Council.
Veronika Kotek, the CE Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said in her remarks that such a law should be passed in a CE member state.
Kotek maintained, further, that there are problems with freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, and the authorities should take a number of steps to solve them.
"First of all, government officials should not file criminal charges against journalists. Second, journalists’ professionalism should be increased. Third, courts should take European standards as a basis while issuing rulings for journalists. Fourth, punishment of journalists over infringing upon one’s dignity should not be handed down under the Criminal Code; these articles should be removed from the Criminal Code and a separate law on defamation passed."
The CE envoy noted that the media plays the role of a public watchdog in society. However, its rights should not be boundless, either. The authorities, on their end, should ensure that action taken against media outlets is proportionate with the committed violation of law.
Other speakers also pointed to the need for passing the libel law. However, a number of them said it should be adopted only after the existing problems between the media and society are resolved.
Aflatun Amashov, the Press Council chairman, spoke in favor of adopting a libel law. He noted, however, that public opinion polls show that government officials are opposed to the measure. Amashov added that as much as 75 percent of the complaints received by the Press Council had been filed by officials.*
Vugar Aliyev, who heads the Presidential Administration section for work with the media, said adopting the Law on Defamation requires economic independence of the local media, improving journalists’ skills and minimized politicizing of the press. "Adoption of the law is not far off," Aliyev told a conference, "Defamation and freedom of expression in Azerbaijan," organized in Baku on Monday by the Council of Europe’s local office and media watchdog Press Council.
Veronika Kotek, the CE Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said in her remarks that such a law should be passed in a CE member state.
Kotek maintained, further, that there are problems with freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, and the authorities should take a number of steps to solve them.
"First of all, government officials should not file criminal charges against journalists. Second, journalists’ professionalism should be increased. Third, courts should take European standards as a basis while issuing rulings for journalists. Fourth, punishment of journalists over infringing upon one’s dignity should not be handed down under the Criminal Code; these articles should be removed from the Criminal Code and a separate law on defamation passed."
The CE envoy noted that the media plays the role of a public watchdog in society. However, its rights should not be boundless, either. The authorities, on their end, should ensure that action taken against media outlets is proportionate with the committed violation of law.
Other speakers also pointed to the need for passing the libel law. However, a number of them said it should be adopted only after the existing problems between the media and society are resolved.
Aflatun Amashov, the Press Council chairman, spoke in favor of adopting a libel law. He noted, however, that public opinion polls show that government officials are opposed to the measure. Amashov added that as much as 75 percent of the complaints received by the Press Council had been filed by officials.*
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