Renowned media lawyer calls for closure of Russian propaganda media in Azerbaijan

"Propaganda of Russian-funded propaganda media in Azerbaijan should be banned, either directly on the infrastructure, or on land and cable," lawyer Alasgar Mammadli told Report.

According to him, Russian-language education in Azerbaijan should not be funded by the state.

“I spoke on the activities of the Russian state-funded channels in Azerbaijan a few years ago while criticizing one of the decisions of the National Television and Radio Council. At that time, the council recommended that 110 Russian channels be broadcast on cable television in Azerbaijan. The vast majority of those channels are also engaged in Russia's aggressive and anti-Azerbaijani propaganda. Whether it is Channel One or Rossiya 24 channels. Various Russian television channels systematically distort the realities of Azerbaijan and broadcast programs in support of Armenians, occupiers and separatists. Unfortunately, at that time, the authorities decided against the interests of Azerbaijan. On such issues, they recommended that these channels, licensed cable television, broadcast Russian channels. This is a rather serious problem and, in fact, one of the issues threatening the information security of Azerbaijan. Because there are more Russian-speaking people in Azerbaijan than English.”

The lawyer believes that Russian-language channels lead to the spread of pro-Russian propaganda in Azerbaijan.

“Actually, we are late in this regard. Measures to this end should have been taken a long time ago. Of course, I accept the concept of freedom of information. It is a matter of choice to watch any channel via satellite or the Internet. However, broadcasters using state-licensed resources should not be allowed to broadcast such propaganda resources in Azerbaijan.”

Alasgar Mammadli said that the distribution of such propaganda media in Azerbaijan should be banned, either directly on the infrastructure, or on land and cable.