Is the shutdown of the Baku International Press Center connected with the upcoming presidential elections?

The administration of the center explains the closing of the press center with the need to hold major repair.

What political scientists and economists think of the closing of the press center is presented below:

Chairman of the Great Creation party, MP Fazil Qazanfaroghlu:

"Unfortunately, I do not have complete information regarding the shutdown of the press center. I have noted for myself being there during various events, that the building is in need of repair. Though, I do not think that it needs urgent repair. The shutdown of the press center will create obstacles, especially for opposition parties, while holding events in the threshold of the presidential elections, as there is no alternative for conduction of events".

Chairman of the Gun seher newspaper Arif Aliyev:

"Nothing occurs by accident before the elections. Therefore, I think the shutdown of the Baku international press center is connected with the upcoming presidential elections. After the suspension of the operation of the Baku press center, the Baku international press center has been the only specialized place for events and press conference. But I do not think the situation after the shutdown of the press center is hopeless and tragic. There are numerous hotels in Baku where there are places for arrangements. Those, who have money, will be able to use them, while press centers are necessary for those, who have restricted access to mass media, therefore I think, those who are willing to hold events, will use offices of NGOs or news agencies, which have due places".

Chied od the center for political innovations and technologies Mubariz Ahmedoghlu"

"My attitude to the shutdown of the Baku International Press Center is negative. I have held all my press conferences there through the past year. We are used to it and this place for suitable for us. As I see, the shutdown is connected with repaid. I have heard that following the opening the administration of the press center intends to change the conditions and offer the place for rent for a whole day and not for hour, as it was previously. This is not suitable for me and I will try to rent a space in the press center for an hour following its opening. When amidst the political events, you hear about closing of the press center, only political motives come to your mind. Yet more serious processes await us in the future. Perhaps, the administration of the press center proposes that there will be more interesting and important events and arrangements following the elections and therefore they are preparing for them from now"

Chairman of the Economic Research Center Qubar Ibadoghlu:

"I do not think the shutdown of the press center is connected with the upcoming presidential elections. There are less events and information in summer time, therefore the profits of the press center are dropping. I think they will possible complete the repair within summer and the press center will operate as previously. But if the object changes its profile, it will be possible to say that this is an integral part of measures against freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan.

Member of Musavat parliamentary group Arzu Samedbeyli:

"I have no exact information regarding the shutdown of the press center.  As the press center has been the only conference hall of the kind, it can be said that the measure has been taken to prevent people from gathering in one place before the presidential elections. If the exact date of the completion of repair was declared, it would be possible to believe that the press center is indeed closed for repair.

/Day.Az/