How Azerbaijan’s Media Was Brought to Heel by Presidential Power

March 12, 2025 – Azerbaijan – 

In Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev has orchestrated a relentless crackdown on independent media, transforming the press landscape into a tightly controlled propaganda apparatus. Over the past decade, the regime has employed a calculated mix of legal pressure, economic coercion, and outright repression to dismantle dissenting voices and turn journalism into a state-managed tool.

According to detailed investigations and reports from regional and international rights organizations, Aliyev’s administration has used the pretense of legality, through restrictive media laws and judicial actions, to silence independent outlets. These laws, often passed under the guise of fighting extremism or protecting national security, have become tools for targeting journalists, shuttering newsrooms, and censoring critical reporting. Under this regime, registering a media outlet or receiving foreign funding is fraught with legal risk. Noncompliance frequently results in shutdowns or criminal charges.

The president’s grip tightened further during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent military conflicts, particularly with Armenia. During these sensitive periods, the Azerbaijani government intensified its control, framing dissent as unpatriotic or even treasonous. This rhetoric paved the way for arrests and intimidation, reinforcing a climate of fear among journalists and activists.

Human rights watchdogs note that the crackdown has extended beyond the borders of Azerbaijan. The regime has pressured neighboring and allied countries, such as Turkey, to assist in silencing Azerbaijani dissidents abroad. At the same time, both countries have reportedly worked in tandem to weaken democratic efforts in Armenia, portraying press freedom as a destabilizing influence rather than a democratic necessity.

Inside Azerbaijan, nearly all influential news outlets are either state-owned or run by individuals close to the presidential family. A few brave journalists still attempt to publish critical pieces through foreign-based platforms or anonymously online, but they do so at great personal risk. Surveillance, harassment, and imprisonment are constant threats.

The systematic destruction of media freedom under Aliyev reflects a broader trend of authoritarian entrenchment in the region. While the government continues to claim adherence to the rule of law, the lived reality for journalists in Azerbaijan is one of suppression, censorship, and survival in the shadows.

Reference – 

Azerbaijan’s president run turns ugly over media crackdown

https://hrf.org/latest/how-the-dictators-of-azerbaijan-and-turkey-undermine-armenian-democracy/

‘All within law’: How president of Azerbaijan destroyed or subjugated media