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Azerbaijan, which ranks lowest in international rankings of democracy and press freedom, hosted the so-called “Global Media Forum” for the second time (the first event was held a year ago) in Shusha from July 20 to 22, 2024. The event was attended by the President of Azerbaijan and the theme was “Unmasking False Narratives: Fighting Disinformation”.
Perhaps it is not surprising that such an event would be organized in a country like Azerbaijan, where many journalists are framed, persecuted, and even forced to emigrate to escape the real threat of a dictatorial regime. After all, such a “forum” is an attempt and means for the regime to cover up the harsh reality.
But what is ridiculous is that representatives of international organizations and media with a certain reputation and authority participate in these events in some capacity. These people seem to ignore the sharp criticism of Azerbaijan by their own entities for many years, and by participating in and praising, these “forums” become platforms for whitewashing Baku’s official rhetoric.
The subject of the “forum” is all the more ridiculous considering that the Aliyev regime itself actively encourages the spread of false narratives and disinformation.
If the praise and adulation of Aliyev by prominent figures of the Russian propaganda apparatus during the event was to be expected, the same attitude of the Western participants was incomprehensible to say the least. Not a single one of them dared to raise any criticism or pointed questions to Aliyev about the state of the press in Azerbaijan, the repression of journalists, political prisoners, not to mention the massacre of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in Baku.
We, the undersigned organizations, declare that this practice violates the principles of fair and responsible journalism.
We call on international news organizations, human rights groups and major global media to:
- Assess the negative impact of the “forum” held in Shusha on democratic values;
- Review attitudes and principles of engagement in this regard;
- Eliminate hypocrisy that is inconsistent with your profession.
Committee for the Protection of Free Speech
Yerevan Press Club
Media Advocacy Center
Armenian Institute for Media Diversity
Public Press Club
“ASPAREZ” Journalists Club
Future Journalists NGO
“Human Rights Journalists” NGO
Goris Press Club
Photo: “News from the Caucasus” Telegram channel
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