Ali S. Novruzov · January, 2009

Latest posts by Ali S. Novruzov from January, 2009

Azerbaijan: Civil Society, Opposition Groups Unite as Referendum Approaches

Better known for their bitter divisions and rivalries, civil society and opposition groups in Azerbaijan are slowly uniting as a national referendum aimed at removing the presidential two-term limit approaches. Perceived by many as a threat to democratization in the former Soviet republic and accompanied by a ban on foreign broadcasting in the country, blogs and social networking sites are being used to protest the impending vote.

16 January 2009

Azerbaijan: Foreign Broadcasts Banned Ahead of Constitutional Referendum

As the country prepared to see in the New Year, Azerbaijan's National Council for Television and Radio banned international radio stations from broadcasting on national frequencies. The decision was effective from 1 January 2009 and affected three radio stations broadcasting on the FM frequency. In a region where tight government control defines the media, the ban was seen by some as an attack on the last remnants of free speech in Azerbaijan.

4 January 2009