After the branches and representative offices of foreign media entities in the Republic of Azerbaijan are registered with the state, the authority (institution) determined by the relevant executive body must inform the authority (institution) determined by the relevant executive body about this within 3 (three) working days, APA reports.
This is reflected in the proposed amendment to the "Media Law," discussed at the meeting of the Human Rights Committee of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) held yesterday.
According to the draft, after the branches and representative offices of foreign media entities in the Republic of Azerbaijan are registered with the state, they must apply to the authority (institution) determined by the relevant executive body within 7 (seven) working days to be included in the Media Registry.
The operation of branches and representative offices of foreign media entities in the Republic of Azerbaijan in violation of these requirements, as well as their removal from the Media Registry, shall be grounds for the liquidation of the respective branch or representative office by the authority (institution) determined by the relevant executive body. In the prescribed cases, upon the request of the authority (institution) determined by the relevant executive body, access to the internet information resource (website) of the respective branch or representative office will be immediately restricted by the authority (institution) determined by the relevant executive body.
Journalists working in the branches and representative offices of foreign media entities in the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as foreign journalists, will not be included in the Media Registry.
According to the proposed amendment to the “Law on State Registration of Legal Entities and State Registry,” the operation of branches or representative offices of foreign media entities in the Republic of Azerbaijan in violation of the requirements of the “Media Law,” as well as their removal from the Media Registry, will be considered grounds for the liquidation of that branch or representative office.
