Internet free and under regulation in Azerbaijan

There is no question about any restrictions in the online sphere in the country, head of the political analysis and information provision department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov stated, commenting on the amendments to the legislation that involve criminal liability for defamation and slander on the Internet.

According to him, common method in the international arena is a vital topic of regulation of the national segment of the global Web. “The Azerbaijani authorities are trying to regulate the use of the Internet, but not to put any limitations”, he underlined, adding, that similar regulatory acts exist in most world countries.

“In principle, controlling the information and communication technologies is very difficult. However, we must realize that in all civilized and developed nations, dissemination of racist, nationalist, and information that is harmful to the development of the younger generation, is limited by applicable law,” Aslanov said.

He pointed out that the Internet sector in the country is developing rapidly. Azerbaijan, therefore, like most countries in the world, cannot leave it unattended.

“I think that the discussion of this kind of legislative amendments in Azerbaijan is normal. This does not mean violation of freedom of thought on the Internet,” said Aslanov, stressing that freedom of speech for today in the online sphere meets all the standards of international law”.