Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 12 / Trend , A.Huseynbala/
Forty-four violations were committed against journalists in Azerbaijan in 2008, a report developed by the Azerbaijani Media Law Institution and UK Embassy in Azerbaijan said.
The report states that individuals, policemen and other governmental officials used physical force against journalists last year.
"Thirteen incidents were registered where journalists were beaten while fulfilling their duties in 2008," the report said.
More than 3,300 media outlets are registered in Azerbaijan. Presently 600 are operating.
Almost 400 newspapers and magazines are published and 20 television channels are operating.
There are roughly 50 electronic media outlets and 20 news agencies.
"Journalists are not pressured due to their professional activities in Azerbaijan," Presidential Administration Social and Political Department head Ali Hasanov told Trend earlier.
"Media outlets and journalists were involved in juridical proceedings 63 times in 2008. Governmental officials filed 49 lawsuits against the media," the report stressed.
Courts passed over 102 decisions in court proceedings against media outlets in 2008.
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