Azerbaijani journalists continue to face security challenges

Inspired by the Arab Spring, Azerbaijani youth activists and opposition leaders went to the streets of the capital Baku earlier this year. The country’s journalists have faced a worsening security situation since

By Celia Davies, IRFS

In the wake of government crackdowns on the protestors and the country’s independent media, the IMS-supported Azerbaijan Media Center (AMC) joined together with local media freedom watchdog Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) to develop safety initiatives for local journalists and media figures.

Facing up to reality

Focusing on both online and physical safety the four-day course taught the fundamentals of virtual and non-virtual security, including protection against hacker attacks, using secure connections, and being aware of the relative insecurity of mobile phones.

“Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether I’m being paranoid, or whether I’m simply facing up to the realities of the situation here,” reflected one of the independent journalists attending the safety training.

According to the local Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, the first six months of this year saw 52 recorded instances of pressures against journalists. This includes two separate kidnappings of newspaper correspondents, and seven libel lawsuits brought against the independent press, the majority of which came from government representatives.

Online media at risk

In a country where 90% of the market for television is controlled by the government, the independent press is increasingly seeking new ways of expression online.

During the demonstrations in the spring, access to a number of independent and opposition websites was restricted, and online newspapers such as Azadliq (Freedom) are often targeted by cyber attacks preventing them from operating and handling their normal traffic.

According to Amnesty International, the hostility towards journalist has increased in the past two years:

“Today, few critical voices are tolerated in Azerbaijan. Criticism of the state is regularly punished whether it is voiced through politics, journalism, satire, activism, education, or even social networking websites”.

As progress continues in several of the Arab countries that toppled their dictators in the past months, the situation in Azerbaijan underscores the importance of training local journalists in safe professional practices. Supported by IMS, Azerbaijan Media Center and IRFS continues to work for the improvement of working conditions for media representatives.