In Azerbaijan censorship is applied to internet as well

STATEMENT
of the Block of the Political Parties - “Azadlyg Bloku”

For the last years Azerbaijan has held the first places in the reports of the international human rights organizations for the restriction of the freedom of speech, of the freedom of press and for some other facts of the violation of the Constitutional rights of people. A total power control exists over the television and radio broadcasting in this country. Until recently an alleged freedom ruled on the global Internet network. It was “alleged” because all the providers operating in the country are under the control of the government. However, for the last few days, especially on the eve of the return of Rasul Guliyev, one of the leaders of “Azadlyg bloku” some restrictions have been imposed on a number of national internet resources in the Internet space of Azerbaijan. That is, it has been impossible to obtain any information from the national internet resources which are engaged in the information dissemination.

Remarkable point is that the sites which are blocked most are the operative information sites in Russian or Azerbaijani-language sites with the video visions of the events taking place in the country and of “Azadlyg bloku” candidates’ speeches. Those most exposed to censorship are: the site of the journal “Monitor” - www.monitorjournal.com, the official site of “Azadlyg bloku” - www.azadlig.org, the offical site of the Azerbaijan Popular Front - www.axcp.org, the independent information site in Russian - www.times.az. Lately the censorship has not avoided www.day.az – a site with a vast range of users, which is close the government in power, either. On 17 October 2005 (on the day of Rasul Guliyev’s return) big restrictions were imposed on the access to this site as well. Later the responsible employee of the site was invited to the Administrative Office of the President where he was given an official warning.

As a result of serious monitoring it became obvious that the access to sites is ceased through those providers in Azerbaijan which are linked to the global network by the company – AzerSat. It should be noted that in the country this company enjoys a monopolistic position in the sphere of connection to the global network, and with the exception of AzEurotel, all the providers in Azerbaijan are making use of its service. It has also become vivid that AzerSat channel belongs to a person most close to the head of the country. The sites disseminating independent information seem to bother the head of the country and its close surroundings.

Restriction on the information resources is imposed without any exceptions when some event takes place in the country. For example, an access to the site of the journal “Monitor” is ceased on the day when a new issue of the newspaper "Bakinskiye Vedomosti" which is disseminated through this site is placed there. In that case FTP access, hosting system and proxyweb – the satellite system not depending on any providers, naturally, remains open.

Imposing a “bang” on the domain of sites, restricting an access to them without court decision is an issue received by the international community negatively.

“Shooting” the independent “Azadlyg TV”, which is broadcast at 42 degrees by TurkSat Sattelite TV system, a few days ago, closing www.hrw.org - the site of the organization HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH on the day, when the report on Azerbaijan by this organization was printed, proves once more that the governmental circles in Azerbaijan are not interested in transparent election process.

The block of the political parties – “Azadlyg bloku” is against such illegal methods applied to electronic information means and condemns the strangling of freedom of speech and invites the governmental circles in Azerbaijan to put an end to such illegal acts, to follow the election rules and carry out a normal political competition.

24 October 2005, Baku, azerbaijan