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In the World Press Freedom Index of the international human rights organization Reporters without Borders Azerbaijan got the 162th place among the 180 countries of the world falling by 2 places.

Reporters without Borders says that Azerbaijan suffered an unprecedented crackdown on critics and registered the biggest fall in score among the index’s 25 lowest-ranking countries.

“With media freedom already limited by one-sided regulation and control of the advertising market, the few remaining independent publications were either collapsing under the impact of astronomic damages awards or were simply closed by the police. The number of journalists and bloggers who were jailed turned Azerbaijan into Europe’s biggest prison for news providers,” the website of the organization reports. 

Outspoken journalists and bloggers are being given the same choice as human rights defenders – shut up, flee abroad or be jailed on trumped-up charges, the organization says.

Armenia got the 78th place in the Index, the neighboring Georgia – 69, Iran – 173, and Turkey – 149. Russia is in the 152th place. Top of the list are three Scandinavian countries: Finland, which, according to the article, has been in first place for five years in succession, followed by Norway and Denmark. At the other end of the scale, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea, in last place, were the worst performers.

It is noted that the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index ranks the performance of 180 countries according to a range of criteria that include media pluralism and independence, respect for the safety and freedom of journalists, and the legislative, institutional and infrastructural environment in which the media operate.

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Reporters Without Borders: Azerbaijan ranked 162nd place out of 180 countries in index of media freedom 

CPJ: Azerbaijan is chief jailer of journalists of region

Reporters Without Borders: Azerbaijan ranked 162nd place out of 180 countries in index of media freedom