20 Mar 14 | Awards, Azerbaijan News, News and features
Rahim Haciyev, deputy editor-in-chief of Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq (Photo: Alex Brenner for Index on Censorship)
One of the few remaining independent media outlets in Azerbaijan, the newspaper Azadliq has continued to report on government corruption and cronyism in spite of an increasing financial squeeze enforced by the authorities.
Accepting the award on behalf of Azadliq is the paper’s Editor-in-Chief Rahim Haciyev.
Azadliq newspaper was set up in 1989 by Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, the main opposition organization (in the mid of 90s APFP stopped funding Azadliq and it became an independent newspaper). The first editor-in-chief of the newspaper was a famous journalist Najaf Najafov. Azadliq newspaper has always been a paper admired by free and freedom-loving people. A key motto of the paper was ‘serving the truth’. This was a main reason of constant pressure and attacks on the newspaper. In 2006, the newspaper was evicted from the office located in the city centre. It had been relocated into three small rooms at “so-called” state-financed publishing house.
Harsh repressions have been started against the newspaper staff. Later on, a chief editor and the staff member of the newspaper, poet-satirist were imprisoned with fabricated charges after court decision. The kidnapping and beating of a newspaper staff followed by similar incident when an Azadliq journalist was returning back from fulfilling his job duties and was beaten in the evening. Two journalists were stabbed for their critical articles. Last year, a court had fined the newspaper 65,000 euros. The newspaper website which had 9 million visitor IPs in 2013, was a target to severe attacks. Circulation of the newspaper is only 8000 copies.
Nevertheless, our newspaper has an enormous impact on public opinion. Even by your (Western) standards, this small circulation makes the government dis-comfortable who is doing everything to shut down the paper. It reminds us a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “To be or not to be?” With this dilemma the newspapers is moving towards its 25th jubilee. Despite all the repressions, unbelievable difficulties and problems, the newspaper team is determined to continue this sacred job – serving the truth. Because this is meaning of what we do and the meaning of our lives!
Thank you for your attention and support. In addition, I would like to thank the international democratic community and the democratic community of our country who support the newspaper and let me express our special thanks to our loyal readers.
— Rahim Haciyev, Editor-in-Chief, Azadliq
This article was originally posted on 20 March 2014 at indexoncensorship.org
05 Mar 14 | Awards, Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan News, News and features
Rahim Haciyev, deputy editor-in-chief of Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq (Photo: Alex Brenner for Index on Censorship)
One of the few remaining independent media outlets in Azerbaijan, the newspaper Azadliq has continued to report on government corruption and cronyism in spite of an increasing financial squeeze enforced by the authorities.
The country likes to present itself as a modern democracy, but it is widely recognised as an authoritarian regime where opposition is often brutally cracked down on and critical voices silenced. In this environment, Azadliq works to hold the ruling Aliyev family, and the rest of the powerful elite in the country to account. The latest attacks on the paper came hot on the heels of the country’s 2013 presidential election, where Ilham Aliyev was reelected in a vote labelled flawed by the OSCE.
The paper has been been the target of defamation suits that have resulted in £52,000 in fines. Courts found Azadliq guilty of “damaging” the business reputation of Kabira Mamedova, director of the Baku-based Bina shopping centre, and Taghi Ahmadov, CEO of the Baku Metro, after the paper published articles critical of their activities.
The paper’s bank accounts have been frozen since 25 October, and Gasid, the state-owned press distribution company, has not been transferring payments that reflect the paper’s sales; according to Azadliq’s latest calculations, Gasid now owes about £44,000.
Azadliq’s journalists also face continuous threats. On 4 October 2013, Azadliq reporter Ramin Deko was part of a group of journalists assaulted by a pro-government mob while covering an opposition rally in the central Azerbaijan town of Sabirabad. He also alleges he was abducted and beaten up on 3 and 4 April 2011 by law enforcement bodies. While he was illegally detained, he said he was told to stop writing critical articles and to change his workplace to a pro-government newspaper.
Despite this, Azadliq refuses to back down, and continues to cover the activities of the Azerbaijan corrupt elite. “We play a significant role in providing people with alternative information. Our staff are underpaid, overworked, and yet are fully committed to their work”, said deputy editor-in-chief and acting editor Rahim Haciyev.
Haciyev, who joined the paper in 2001, talked to Andrei Aliaksandrau about why his work at Azadliq is so important.
Index: Your publication faces constant pressure from the authorities. Have you ever thought of leaving for a safer job?
Haciyev: No, this is my work, and it is not only a job, it is my form of expression. The fight for free speech is sacred for me. This is the way of opposing lawlessness and tyranny, and working for Azadliq provides me with a possibility to continue this fight for what I believe in.
Index: What is the wider media landscape in Azerbaijan? And how does this fit into the wider political and social situation?
Haciyev: Repressive steps taken by the government of the country have led to significant restrictions of media freedom. Today there is a real threat of independent press in Azerbaijan totally disappearing. The country lives under a strict authoritarian rule. Activists of political opposition, civil society organisations and independent journalists face constant pressure. There are more than a hundred political prisoners behind bars in Azerbaijan, including journalists.
Index: What is your view on the Snowden/Greenwald revelations about mass surveillance?
Haciyev: Our newspaper covered the story. I think a government should keep its secrets – but it is the role of the press to inform the public and share the information they gather. And any kind of pressure exerted on the media is nothing but a violation of the freedom of expression.
Index: Technologies have changed the media market globally. Do you think newspapers are still relevant?
Haciyev: I am sure printed newspapers will keep their relevance for a long time. Despite the development of the internet, we can still see great demand for newspapers among the audience. For us,our website is getting more and more popular, and the circulation of the printed newspaper is going down – but it is not because people are losing their interest in the printed publication, merely because of all the restrictions and pressure our authorities put on us.
Nominees: Advocacy | Arts | Digital Activism | Journalism
Join us 20 March 2014 at the Barbican Centre for the Freedom of Expression Awards
This article was posted on March 4, 2014 at indexoncensorship.org
08 Nov 13 | Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan News, Europe and Central Asia, News and features
Azadliq, an independent Azerbaijani newspaper, is in danger of folding. The paper has come under severe economic pressure to silence its critical voice following the country’s presidential election.
The paper has been been the target of defamation suits that have resulted in £52,000 in fines. Courts found Azadliq guilty of “damaging” the business reputation of Kabira Mamedova, director of the Baku-based Bina shopping centre, and Taghi Ahmadov, CEO of the Baku Metro, after the paper published articles critical of their activities. Ahmadov had previously agreed to accept payments over a 10-year period, but this week reversed his decision, demanding his full £24,000 payment immediately.
As a result, the paper’s bank accounts have been frozen since 25 October. At the same time, Gasid, the state-owned press distribution company, has not been transferring payments that reflect the paper’s sales. According to Azadliq’s latest calculations, Gasid now owes about £44,000.
Azerbaijani public officials are using criminal and civil defamation against the newspaper and its journalists as a tool to stifle critical and independent journalism, Rahim Hajiyev, acting editor-in-chief of Azadliq, told Index during our pre-election mission to Azerbaijan.
“We play a significant role in providing people with alternative information. Our staff are underpaid, overworked, and yet are fully committed to their work”, said Hajiyev.
Melody Patry, Index advocacy officer, recalls:
“During Index’s mission in Azerbaijan in September, we met with Rahim Hajiyev. While greeting us, he apologised for a pitiful condition of the editorial office: ‘We used to be in another office, but we got kicked out. Now, we cannot afford even these premises. Where will we be next? Probably, in the street?’ he said. The main topic of discussion was the newspaper’s financial struggle.”
Azadliq is appealing for your help and support. The newspaper is in desperate need of funds that can ensure it can continue its operations. For information on how to make your contribution and donate to support an independent voice, click here.
This article was originally published on 8 Nov 2013 at indexoncensorship.org
25 Jan 12 | Azerbaijan News, Europe and Central Asia, Index Index, minipost
Azerbaijani newspapers Yeni Musavat and Azadliq were fined 2000 manats (1,634 GBP) this week, they had been accused of damaging businessman Anar Mammadovov’s honour and business image. Mammadov, the son of Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov, appealed to the court citing articles two articles — one headlined “Kamaladdin Heydarov’s Bear Eaten” and the other “Sheikh drives Anar Mammadov out of Dubai” — published in July and September 2010 respectively.
