Supreme Court judge: Media freedom ensured in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Supreme Court Chairman Inam Karimov has said media freedom is ensured both by legislation and judicial practice in Azerbaijan.

He made the remarks at a meeting with media representatives within the dialogue platform “Themis”, Report informs.

Karimov reminded that Azerbaijan acceded to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in 2001, and since then the Convention has been an integral part of the country's legislation.

"Thus, the case law of the European Court is accepted by local courts as part of the Convention and is widely applied in practice. This means that media freedom is ensured by the courts in our country in accordance with the standards of the European Court,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, addressing the meeting, Azerbaijan Media Development Agency Executive Director Ahmad Ismayilov said that the main objective of the reforms carried out in the media sector is to improve the media environment and support the production of qualitative news.

He said that among the priority issues for the agency is the preparation of proposals for the improvement of the regulatory framework to regulate the relations of media entities with society and the state, the introduction of proposals to the state and local authorities to solve problems hindering the activities of the media.

"The creation of favourable conditions for the development of media entities is clear proof of ensuring pluralism, freedom of thought and speech in our country," Ismayilov added.

In Azerbaijan, the media bill was adopted 20 years ago. Certain changes were made, but some points remained open.

In December 2021, the Azerbaijani parliament adopted a new law “On the media”. It determines the general rules of the organization of media activities, the legal and economic bases of these activities, as well as the receipt, preparation, transmission, production and dissemination of mass information. The document consists of nine chapters and 78 clauses.

The new bill is expected to play an important role in eliminating a number of shortcomings that exist today in the media sphere and to pave the way for the creation of a regulatory framework that meets the latest global standards.

It provides for all the details, from raising the level of professionalism of journalists to solving their social problems. This creates the necessary legal framework for better protection of information security in Azerbaijan.