Azerbaijan plans powerful new media regulator to merge existing watchdogs

Azerbaijan’s parliament is debating legislation to merge its media watchdogs into a single state regulator with sweeping powers to monitor digital content and penalise publishers.

Under the proposed amendments discussed by the parliamentary Human Rights Committee on Tuesday, the new Media and Broadcast Council will absorb the functions of both the Media Development Agency (MEDIA) and the Audiovisual Council.

The state-funded body will oversee the country's official media registry, issue press credentials, and monitor social media platforms to analyse digital content.

Under the bill, the regulator will also have the authority to request sanctions from other state bodies if it detects legal violations by media outlets. Its leadership will be appointed directly by the executive branch.

Independent experts and rights advocates have criticised the restructuring, warning that it will dismantle public oversight and further tighten state control over the press.

Critics of the bill argue that the change will destroy any remaining self-regulation mechanisms within the Azerbaijani media landscape, describing several clauses in the draft law as reactionary.

The move follows years of escalating pressure on independent journalism in the South Caucasus nation. When Azerbaijan passed its restrictive Media Law four years ago, international press freedom watchdogs warned that its mandatory media registry was designed to shut down independent outlets.

Azerbaijan is currently holding more than 20 journalists in custody, many of whom were excluded from the official media registry.

Most of the detained reporters face smuggling and financial charges, which they reject as politically motivated retaliation for their investigative work.

Among those held are staff from the independent outlets Toplum TV and Meydan TV. Relatives of some detainees, including Toplum TV co-founder Alesger Mammadli, have recently complained of severe restrictions on family visits.

Another jailed journalist, Nurlan Libre, recently alleged that he had been physically assaulted by a guard while in pre-trial detention in Baku.

Azerbaijani officials have consistently denied that journalists are targeted for their professional activities, maintaining that they are prosecuted only for specific criminal offences.

The Media Development Agency was established by presidential decree in January 2021, while the Audiovisual Council has operated for 24 years as the successor to the National Television and Radio Council.Azerbaijan’s parliament is debating legislation to merge its media watchdogs into a single state regulator with sweeping powers to monitor digital content and penalise publishers.

Under the proposed amendments discussed by the parliamentary Human Rights Committee on Tuesday, the new Media and Broadcast Council will absorb the functions of both the Media Development Agency (MEDIA) and the Audiovisual Council.

The state-funded body will oversee the country's official media registry, issue press credentials, and monitor social media platforms to analyse digital content.

Under the bill, the regulator will also have the authority to request sanctions from other state bodies if it detects legal violations by media outlets. Its leadership will be appointed directly by the executive branch.

Independent experts and rights advocates have criticised the restructuring, warning that it will dismantle public oversight and further tighten state control over the press.

Critics of the bill argue that the change will destroy any remaining self-regulation mechanisms within the Azerbaijani media landscape, describing several clauses in the draft law as reactionary.

The move follows years of escalating pressure on independent journalism in the South Caucasus nation. When Azerbaijan passed its restrictive Media Law four years ago, international press freedom watchdogs warned that its mandatory media registry was designed to shut down independent outlets.

Azerbaijan is currently holding more than 20 journalists in custody, many of whom were excluded from the official media registry.

Most of the detained reporters face smuggling and financial charges, which they reject as politically motivated retaliation for their investigative work.

Among those held are staff from the independent outlets Toplum TV and Meydan TV. Relatives of some detainees, including Toplum TV co-founder Alesger Mammadli, have recently complained of severe restrictions on family visits.

Another jailed journalist, Nurlan Libre, recently alleged that he had been physically assaulted by a guard while in pre-trial detention in Baku.

Azerbaijani officials have consistently denied that journalists are targeted for their professional activities, maintaining that they are prosecuted only for specific criminal offences.

The Media Development Agency was established by presidential decree in January 2021, while the Audiovisual Council has operated for 24 years as the successor to the National Television and Radio Council.