Azerbaijan Escalates Media Repression with Draconian Law Amendments

RSF warns of “total information isolation” as Aliyev regime tightens grip on press freedom

On July 14, 2025, Azerbaijan’s parliament passed alarming amendments to the country’s already repressive media law, raising serious concerns about the complete eradication of independent journalism. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned these changes as a new escalation in the Aliyev regime’s war on press freedom, describing the law as “a death sentence” for independent journalism.

“This is a legislative charade serving Ilham Aliyev’s authoritarian regime,” said Jeanne Cavelier, head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. “It follows the arbitrary and shocking convictions of journalists from the independent news outlet Abzas Media last month. The goal is clear: to suffocate all independent media and prevent any new attempts to report truthfully. RSF calls for the immediate repeal of this repressive media law and the release of the 25 journalists currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.”

Foreign Media Under Attack

The new law now forces all foreign media outlets operating in Azerbaijan to register within seven days of obtaining mandatory state approval. Failure to do so may result in closure. Moreover, authorities are granted sweeping powers to block access to foreign media websites under vague legal justifications, such as “interference in internal affairs” or “distorting reality”—terms frequently used to silence critical reporting.

This move follows a wave of arbitrary accreditation withdrawals in March 2025 and is expected to drive the remaining international media out of the country. It also significantly discourages any new foreign outlets from establishing a presence in Azerbaijan’s hostile media environment.

Local Media Monopoly Tightens

The amendments further cement the regime’s monopoly over domestic media. Independent news agencies are now required to have signed agreements with at least 20 registered local media outlets in order to operate legally. Given that no independent media remain headquartered in Azerbaijan, this clause seems tailor-made to block the revival of Turan News Agency, which was forced to shut down earlier this year.

In another restrictive measure, all print newspapers must now be registered with the state to be distributed or sold, under threat of financial penalties. Titles must also avoid wording deemed “contrary to public order, moral standards, or ethics”—broad terms open to arbitrary interpretation by the authorities.

A Climate of Fear and Control

These latest amendments illustrate the regime’s intent to exercise total control over the flow of information. They come amid a broader crackdown that includes mass arrests, censorship, surveillance, and harassment of journalists.

Azerbaijan ranks 167th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2025 World Press Freedom Index. With each new restriction, the possibility of independent journalism surviving within the country becomes increasingly remote.