Hasanov said that the event on defamation held today is an issue that has long been discussed in Azerbaijan.

“The bills on defamation were first proposed in 2005, 2011, and 2013, and were widely discussed. The outcome of the public discussions revealed that at a time people are frequently insulted in the media and the media’s economic independence is weak and political polarization is so strong, the adoption of such a bill may unleash opposite effect and further complicate the problem,” the top official said.

In the first place, according to Hasanov, the economic independence of media outlets has to be strengthened, actions taken towards improving the professionalism of reporters, and political polarization in the media lowered, and then the adoption of such a bill may be considered.

“Also, there was a need to take some necessary measures about preparing public opinion for this innovation. Since 2007, Azerbaijan, along with the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the European Union and international journalist organizations, has taken lots of measures on towards improving the professionalism of reporters, and achieved good results. On the orders and decrees of the Azerbaijani president, newspapers and information agencies were granted lump-sum financial aid, and actions were taken to strengthen the social defense of reporters,” he added.

The "Concept for State support for the development of media in Azerbaijan" was worked out in 2008 and the State Fund for Support of Mass Media Development under the President of Azerbaijan was created in 2009, said the president`s aide.

The top official recalled that in 2009, Azerbaijan`s president said it is inexpedient to hold the media criminally liable for the journalistic activities and defamation cases.

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