Azerbaijan limits the role of journalists

Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Programme says the new restrictions severely undermine the political process and thwart attempts by the press to provide meaningful debate and civil action before the October election. The penalties for breaking these laws are heavy fines, corrective labour or imprisonment. Reporters Without Borders currently rates Azerbaijan as 156th in the world for press freedom and has criticised the government for targeting independent and opposition news sources in the country.