The media freedom representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has criticized Azerbaijan for not living up to its commitments to decriminalize defamation.
Dunja Mijatovic made the statement while attending events to mark World Press Freedom Day in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose.
Mijatovic said Baku pledged to decriminalize defamation in 2006 but that the government has recently proposed amendments that "go in the opposite direction."
She said she was also concerned by a proposal to include "all publicly accessible online resources" in the proposed law.
The government and family of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev have been the subject of numerous media reports alleging nepotism and corruption, including some based on online corporate registration records.
Dunja Mijatovic made the statement while attending events to mark World Press Freedom Day in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose.
Mijatovic said Baku pledged to decriminalize defamation in 2006 but that the government has recently proposed amendments that "go in the opposite direction."
She said she was also concerned by a proposal to include "all publicly accessible online resources" in the proposed law.
The government and family of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev have been the subject of numerous media reports alleging nepotism and corruption, including some based on online corporate registration records.