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Reporters Without Borders is worried that the Azerbaijani government is trying to introduce online controls in the run-up to the upcoming parliamentary elections, Turan reports.

On 16 April, Azerbaijani communications minister Ali Abbasov raised the necessity of Internet regulation and, in particular, a system for licensing Internet TV was needed. Nushiravan Magerramli, the head of the National TV and Radio Broadcasting Council, made similar comments.

“The authorities keep on making dramatic statements about their desire to protect the country’s morals, but in practice what they want is to maintain their monopoly of news and information,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“They already control TV and the most part of print media and now they are staging a shameless offensive against the Internet. Such behaviour is contrary to the undertakings Azerbaijan has given to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe,” the press freedom organisation added.

Journalists and human rights lawyers who took part in a round table on 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, voiced concern about the consequences of Internet regulation and accused the government of trying to tighten its grip on the media.

“Two bloggers, Adnan Hadjizade and Emin Milli, are still in prison for criticising the regime and denouncing corruption in a satirical video posted online. Their conviction was confirmed on appeal on 10 March. Their lawyers referred the case to the supreme court on 29 April. They were given jail sentences of 24 and 30 months respectively on 11 November 2009,” the statement says.