Azernews.Az

BAKU – The responsibilities of a media ombudsman that was earlier expected to be appointed in Azerbaijan have been granted to the country’s senior rights defender, according to a bill approved in parliament on Tuesday.

Under the bill on amendments to the Constitutional law, which had been sent by the president, the Human Rights Representative (Ombudsman) will be responsible for reviewing claims on violations of the right to access information.

MP Ali Huseynov said that according to the amendments, the Ombudsman will oversee government agencies and local bodies’ compliance with the requirements of the Law on Access to Information. The Ombudsman is to review citizens’ pleas on rights violations within 10 work-days.

In keeping with Azerbaijan’s legislation, the amendments to the Constitutional law will be voted on again in six months.

Media watchdog Press Council has opposed vesting the credentials of a representative on freedom of the media in the Ombudsman and has appealed to President Ilham Aliyev over the issue. Presidential Administration official Ali Hasanov earlier opposed the measure as well.

The Law on Access to Information, passed in Azerbaijan in 2005, envisioned establishing an institute of the Ombudsman on the media.