Institute of media rights: "The number of claims filed regarding defamation has risen 7 times in Azerbaijan"

The due statement is fixed in the report of the Institute for Media Rights, Novosti-Azerbaijan reports.

Thus, in 2005 mass medias were brought to responsibility for defamation 14 times, in 2006 29 times and in 2007 103 times.

The total amount of fines, demanded by the plaintiffs from the mass media representatives made up AZN 2,000,000 in 2005, AZN 6,500,000 in 2006 and AZN 12,500,000 in 2007.

The fines, imposed by judges on the convicted press were AZN 450,000 in 2005, AZN 950,000 in 2006 and AZN 945,000 in 2007.

Last year the court sentenced 9 reporters to imprisonment, 4 were arrested, 2 sentenced to correctional works. 10 demands to imprison reporters were not granted, three claims finished in reconciliation and four were withdrawn.

The report says that the claims were even more cruel against Gundelik Azerbaijan, Realny Azerbaijan, Azadlyg, Mukhalifat, Khural, Nota Bene, Baki Kheber and Yeni Musavat newspaper.