Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 17 / Trend , A.Huseynbala/
The Azerbaijan Press Council is taking the necessary measures to eliminate the registration of newspapers, which do not operate for a long time.
"There are over 2,000 newspapers in Azerbaijan. Most of them are engaged in racketeering. Our main goal is to adjust the relationship between the press and the public," Chairman of the Press Council, Aflatun Amashov told Trend on Sept. 17.
More than 3,300 media outlets were registered in Azerbaijan. Currently only 600 of them function. Nearly 400 newspapers and magazines are published and more than 20 television channels function. There are about 50 electronic media outlets, 20 news agencies, and the rest are the Internet resources in Azerbaijan.
Amashov said the majority of complaints, received by the council, is connected with newspapers, which do not function for a long time.
"These newspapers were registered 7-8 years ago. There are countless people who call themselves journalists, who are engaged in racketeering, having the identity of newspapers that are not published at present. Registration of these newspapers, threatening, slandering people, demanding money via blackmail, must be cancelled," said the chairman of the council.
Amashov said although this action does not constitute a crime, the council is obliged to investigate such incidents and report to relevant structures.
"The main purpose of our monitoring is to identify such newspapers. It is revealed that the newspapers that were registered 9-10 years ago, not only is issued once a month, but even once a year. However, a group of journalists as employees of these newspapers are engaged in racketeering," he said.
The chairman of the council said the monitoring results have been submitted to Ministry of Justice. "Of course, neither the Press Council nor even the Ministry has the authority to decide upon the closure of these publications. However, the chaos could be prevented by the courts. After full specifying a list of these newspapers, we will appeal to the appropriate courts," said Amashov.
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