Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev Defends Media Arrests, Claims Press Freedom Assured with Internet Access
Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev Defends Arrests of Journalists, Claims Press Freedom Assured with Internet Access
In a bold statement during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev dismissed criticism over the recent arrests of journalists in his country. Aliyev asserted that the presence of internet access in Azerbaijan guaranteed press freedom, despite concerns raised by the United States, the European Union, and press watchdogs.
“We must protect our media landscape from external negative influences, just like any other country, and everyone must comply with the laws,” Aliyev stated. “We have a free press and a free internet. If there is an internet in the country, then what kind of violation of press freedom can we talk about?”
This marks the first time Aliyev has publicly addressed the arrests, which have sparked international concern. The president faced tough questions from a reporter at Germany’s ZDF broadcaster regarding the detention of his colleague Imran Aliyev, head of the Meclis.info outlet and a former employee of ZDF, who is currently imprisoned on smuggling charges.
The arrests are linked to the Abzas Media group, with six others also in custody. Last November, police discovered 40,000 euros in cash at the Baku offices of the media outlet. Aliyev defended the arrests, stating that those detained had illegally received funding from abroad.
Azerbaijan ranks 151 out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, with Aliyev accused of silencing critics in a media landscape dominated by state-controlled outlets. Chancellor Scholz acknowledged the need for improvement in Azerbaijan’s press freedom situation during his discussions with Aliyev.
As the debate over press freedom in Azerbaijan continues, the international community will be closely monitoring the developments in the country. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.
(Reporting by Rachel More; additional reporting by Nailia Bagirova; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
