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In a new report of international human rights organization Freedom House "Freedom of the press - 2015" Azerbaijan is among 18 countries out of 199 where the state of press freedom deteriorated over the past year. The rating is published on the website of the organization.

Azerbaijan is on the 188-th place of the rating with 87 scores among the "not free countries". It is remarkable, that the country has dropped 5 positions compared to the last year.

''The government of Azerbaijan unleashed a major crackdown on independent media, employing threats, raids, restrictive laws, and prosecutions. Journalists and bloggers faced fabricated charges and arbitrary detention, and at least eight remained in prison at year’s end, making Azerbaijan the worst jailer of journalists in Eurasia. Economic and political pressures, including the freezing of assets and intimidation, led to the closure of multiple organizations that support journalists’ rights,'' the report reads.

Featured among the major backsliders along with Azerbaijan were Turkey (144), Algeria (135), Egypt (161), Honduras (152), Libya (162) and others.

Among CIS countries, the worst situation with the freedom of the media is in Uzbekistan, which holds the 198th place. Turkmenistan holds 179th place, Armenia – the 136th, Belarus – the 194th, Kazakhstan – the 185th, Kyrgyzstan – the 149th, Moldova – the 121st, Russia – the 181st, Ukraine – the 126th. Norway tops the International rating.

Related:
Armenia outdoes Azerbaijan by 20 positions in Human Capital Index 2015 of World Economic Forum

Armenia ranks 91st in Global Peace Index, Azerbaijan in 132nd position