Azerbaijan - January 2023

A law further restricting the activities of political parties came into force on 11 January, raising the barriers for registration and requiring parties to submit detailed personal information on all members to the state. The space for political party operations in Azerbaijan is already miniscule – only one member of parliament is nominally independent – and analysts say the law will likely damage the already low public trust in parliament and political parties, provide the state with expanded opportunities for surveillance, and further inhibit freedom of association.

Sources: EurasiaNet, Agora Analitik Kollektiv

Azerbaijani journalists have demanded the abolition of the Media Development Agency (MDA), an oversight body established in October 2022, for further restricting the country’s tightly controlled media environment. The MDA requires journalists to register, produce a certain amount of daily content, provide personal information, and reside permanently in the country. Although registration is ostensibly voluntary, journalists complain that the MDA selectively refuses to register outlets and unregistered journalists are barred from attending parliament and refused quotes by government spokespeople. The law authorizing the registry has been condemned as “unacceptable” by the Venice Commission.

Sources: EurasiaNet, JAMNews