Azerbaijan declares activities of Iranian media 'Səhər' and 'Mehr' illegal on its territory

The Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan (MEDİA) issued an official statement in response to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence's decision to include the Azerbaijani state television channel AzTV and several other foreign media outlets on the list of "enemy media structures."

The Azerbaijani agency expressed bewilderment at Tehran's actions and threats of criminal prosecution against individuals cooperating with AzTV. In response, Baku invoked the principle of reciprocity provided for in Article 11.4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Media."

"Undoubtedly, the Republic of Azerbaijan, while remaining committed to protecting the professional activities of journalists, also ensures the application of the principle of reciprocity. Thus, according to Article 11.4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan 'On Media,' when other states impose special restrictions on the professional activities of journalists included in the Media Register, similar restrictions may be introduced in the Republic of Azerbaijan with respect to journalists of the state that applied those restrictions.

Taking into account the requirements of the relevant article and the principle of reciprocity, the activities on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan of media entities operating against the national interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conducting propaganda against the sovereignty, constitutional order, territorial integrity, and national security of our country — the television channel 'Səhər' (Sahar) and the news agency 'Mehr' (Mehr), as well as representatives of these entities — are recognized as illegal," the statement said.

The agency called on all Azerbaijani media outlets and journalists to refrain from any cooperation with the specified Iranian media structures, reminding that international cooperation in the field of journalism must be built strictly on the basis of mutual respect.