PARIS: Media rights group Reporters Without Borders denounced Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev for the "recent deterioration of press freedom" in his country, in an open letter made public Tuesday.
The Paris-based media watchdog criticized the Nov. 24 evictions of three media outlets — the Turan news agency and Azadlig and Bizim Yol newspapers — and also the Oct. 24 announcement by Azerbaijan's National Television and Radio Council that it would revoke the license of independent television station ANS.
"The independent, opposition and foreign media are being systematically targeted by these repressive measures," the letter said, adding that such acts "show that Azeri authorities are taking a harder line on free expression and press freedom."
Reporters Without Borders said the events forced them to question Aliev's recent remark on national television that "no one should doubt freedom of expression and press freedom in Azerbaijan."
Aliev accused the opposition of "politicizing" the evictions and insisted that freedom of speech and the media are government priorities. Azerbaijani authorities said the media groups were evicted for owing back rent.
The group called on the president "to intervene to ensure that press freedom is respected in Azerbaijan," warning that any restrictions could affect the 2008 presidential election.
Opposition parties and independent media outlets have suffered frequent harassment in the oil-rich Caspian Sea state, ruled for years by members of the same family.
