Baku dismisses claims on free speech violations
BAKU – An Azerbaijani presidential aide has labeled as biased international groups’ claims on violations of freedom of speech and the media in the country, saying most of them aimed to put pressure on the government.
"Some international organizations’ reports citing lack of media freedom are subjective and do not reflect reality," Ali Hasanov told the press Wednesday. "These organizations are increasingly ceding their independence, beginning to carry out the orders of certain circles."
Hasanov stressed that there are no laws banning the establishment and work of media outlets in Azerbaijan, therefore, the allegations on media freedom violations had no merit.
Hasanov added that there are practices of freedom of conscience and expression in Azerbaijan.
He pointed out that the jailed newspaper editor Eynulla Fatullayev’s arrest was not due to his work.
"There is currently not a single journalist in Azerbaijan jailed over his work. There were some in the past, but most of them have been pardoned."
Fatullayev was sentenced in 2007 to eight-and-a-half years in prison on charges on inciting ethnic hatred, threatening terror and tax evasion.
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