Originally from The Journal of Eurasian Law (JEL)

AZERBAIJAN--Online libel law enacted

On May 14, the National Assembly of Azerbaijan adopted legislation that will amend the Criminal Code to make online libel and "abuse" crimes. The maximum sentence for online libel that is considered to be especially serious is three years in prison. International media rights groups have criticized the measure and have called on President Ilham Aliyev to veto it. In response to the adoption of this legislation, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, expressed deep concern about the increasingly hostile situation for the media in Azerbaijan. "I recently warned the government that it is falling short of its promise to decriminalize defamation. This commitment was made as part of the National Action Plan on Human Rights, decreed by President Aliyev in 2011," Mijatović said. "Yesterday's amendments drive Azerbaijan even further away from the OSCE's recommendations to decriminalize defamation. I urge President Aliyev not to sign these amendments," she added.