Azernews.Az

BAKU – An Azerbaijani presidential aide has said a decision not to appoint a special representative on freedom of the media in Azerbaijan would be inappropriate.

The Law on Access to Information, passed in Azerbaijan in 2005, envisioned establishing an institute of the Ombudsman on the media. But such an Ombudsman is unlikely to be appointed and these credentials will be granted to the current Ombudsperson, according to changes to the country’s laws discussed in parliamentary committees on Wednesday.

Ali Hasanov, head of the Presidential Administration socio-political department, said an Ombudsman on the media is a peculiar field of activity that should be dealt with by someone with long-standing experience in journalism.

"There is such experience in the world. An ombudsman on information should act on his own. I believe that this kind of an institution can be established in Azerbaijan and this is necessary."