Baku, March 28, AZERTAC

Journalist organizations in Azerbaijan have made an appeal to the relevant bodies of the Russian Federation and the international media community over the block of some media outlets of the country by the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) of Russia.

AZERTAC presents the appeal:

“The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has blocked one of Azerbaijan’s popular and professional media outlets, “Oxu.az” news portal in the territory of the Russian Federation. This decision was taken without any information or warning to the editorial office of the portal. Some time ago, similar decisions were also made in relation to other Russian language websites operating in Azerbaijan – “Haqqin.az” and “minval.az”. It is expected that this list will be expanded in the days to come.

Roskomnadzor is not willing to issue an official explanation for blocking Azerbaijani mass media. It is only known that the mentioned media outlets provide regular news on the Russian-Ukrainian war and carry reports which include violation of international norms by Russia in the course of the war. The Azerbaijani media are based on realities in their news policy and make references to the reports of international organizations which monitor the Russian-Ukrainian war, including official bodies. The Russian side should not be concerned over the reflection of the realities in the media and should not demonstrate their concerns in the form of blocking social media platforms and applying restrictions on the broadcast of mass media outlets.

It should be taken into account that people, including Russian speaking people, have such fundamental rights as knowing the truth. By blocking the media outlets, which disseminate this truth in the Russian language, including Azerbaijan’s news portals, Roskomnadzor violates the principles of freedom of expression and pluralism and acts against democracy.

We believe it is necessary to note that the government of Azerbaijan has never blocked Russian media outlets in those crucial times for its security, even during the second Karabakh war – the 44-day battle. It is despite the fact that most media outlets of Russia pursued an information war against Azerbaijan by taking the side on the enemy front.

We, as journalist organizations of Azerbaijan, would like to address the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media of Russia to call it for reviewing its wrong decisions and lifting the block on the Azerbaijani media outlets. At the same time, we would like to address the international media community to say that it has become necessary to show solidarity to stop the wrong and anti-democratic moves of Russia.”

Signed by:

Mushfig Alasgarli – Chairman of the Trade Union of Journalists

Umud Rahimoglu – Chairman of the International Eurasia Press Fund

Yadigar Mammadli – chairman of the League of Democratic Journalists

Ayaz Mirzayev – the Network of Azerbaijani Journalists

Elshad Eyvazli – Chiarman of the Parliamentary Journalists Association (Public Union of Unbiased Journalists)

Fazil Abbasov – Journalists Association of OIC Member States

Jasarat Huseynzada – the Support for Information Initiatives Public Union

Nadir Azeri – Chairman of CASCFEN (Central Asia – South Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network)

Seymur Verdizada – the Center for Journalist Investigations

Khalid Kazimov – the Regional Human Rights and Media Center Public Union.