On 12 January, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed the decree to deepen reforms in the Azerbaijani media sector and transform the Media Development Fund into the Media Development Agency.
According to the charter, the Media Development Agency is a public legal entity carrying out activities to support the development of media, organise the training of media specialists and their additional education, stimulate the activities of audiovisual, print, online media and information agencies (media subjects), as well as journalists and other media workers, as well as the introduction of new information and communication technologies and innovations in the field of media. The agency's tasks include organising the implementation of projects that are important for the state and society, aimed at developing, strengthening economic independence and improving the activities of these media entities, as well as in accordance with the “Concept of state support for the development of the media in the Republic of Azerbaijan.” The organisation also takes measures to strengthen the economic independence of media entities, creates financial support for the development of media, acts as a state customer for the production and distribution of audiovisual products, and holds competitions for this purpose.
The newly established state organ was also granted punitive functions. According to the charter of the structure, in cases of signs of an administrative offense in print and online media, the Agency would have the authority to take measures in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses. If the Agency finds signs of a criminal act, it will apply to the appropriate authorities.
However, the media experts in the country were sceptical on the creation of this organ. “The agency's charter indicates that it will deal with all issues: from administrative penalties to print and online media, right up to the implementation of business activities. In addition, it talks about concepts that are not provided for in the current legislation. For example, the charter mentions “audiovisual media,” which is [not mentioned in either] the Law on Mass Media, nor in the Law on TV and Radio Broadcasting,” noted one of Azerbaijan’s media experts Alasgar Mammadli. He recalled that the central executive body supervising the media was abolished when Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe. Now it is being revived in the form of a legal entity of public law, and with confused powers, without preliminary discussions in society.
In turn, the Azerbaijani economist Samir Aliyev argued that the biggest rivals of the country’s press were social networks and the YouTube service. “Readers and users will learn about what is happening in the country from these platforms. These platforms have shown that people are interested not only in show business, but also in political processes and economic decisions,” he said. Aliyev also emphasized that the number 1 recipe for the development of the press is to ensure its independence and the absence of censorship.
