Fast Facts In an environment of total government control over national media, Radio Azadliq has built a firm reputation as one of the only independent outlets in Azerbaijan. Language: Azerbaijani Established: 1953 Distribution: Radio (SW, satellite), Internet (Azeri & Russian), weekly newspaper Coverage: Nine hours daily Locations: Prague, Baku Staff: 6 (Prague), 18 (Baku), 22 stringers

Media Environment

• Freedom House Freedom of the Press Index, 2012: Not Free (172nd/197)
• Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, 2012: 162nd/179
• The government of Azerbaijan jails journalists and heavily censors all media. Since December 2008, all international broadcasters including Radio Azadliq, the BBC and Voice of America are banned from broadcasting on local FM and MW frequencies.

Highlights

• A January 2012 expose featuring video of traffic policemen openly soliciting bribes in central Baku went viral on Radio Azadliq’s website, and led to the police officers being thrown off the force.
• Radio Azadliq’s “Korrupsiometr” web portal, launched in 2010, engages independent Azeri lawyers to respond to audience questions, posts the latest laws and regulations and serves as a forum for people impacted by corruption.
• Radio Azadliq investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova was awarded the 2012 ”Courage in Journalism” prize by the International Women’s Media Foundation. Radio Azadliq won the 2010 Investigative Journalism Prize from the Open Society Institute and the Center for Support to Economic Initiatives and the 2009 Media Excellence Award from the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB).
• In 2011, Radio Azadliq launched “Facebook Radio,” a live, late-night and audience-driven program streamed on Facebook.
• Radio Azadliq’s coverage led to the release of “donkey bloggers” Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade in 2010. Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, released from prison in May 2011 after sustained coverage of his case, said in his first post-release interview, “I love Radio Azadliq. You’re one of those who saved my life.”
• Radio Azadliq’s award-winning satire program “250 Seconds+,” launched in 2010, is one of Azadliq's most popular programs with each show attracting 10,000 viewers to the website.  It is actively shared over social networks, especially Facebook, which in turn brings in new audiences.
• In 2010, Radio Azadliq launched “Oxu Zali” (“Reading Room”), a first-of-its-kind literature portal and online Azerbaijani literature library that promotes freedom of expression.

updated: 27 June 2012

Population:
9.17 (World Bank estimate, 2011)

Most Common Languages:
Azeri, Armenian, Russian, Lezgi, 

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Not Free, ranked 172 out of 197 (2012)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
162 out of 179 (2011/2012)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
143 out of 183 (2011)

Global Peace Index (IES):
132 out of 158 (2012)

Human Rights Watch:
Report on Azerbaijan (2012)

Amnesty International:
Azerbaijan Report (2012)