Azerbaijan has enacted a new media law that increases restrictions on the press. This article is published by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Here is an excerpt:

On Tuesday, February 8, President Ilham Aliyev enacted the law “On Media,” which replaces existing laws governing media outlets, according to news reports and a copy of the law, which CPJ reviewed.

The legislation requires the owners of media outlets to be Azerbaijani citizens permanently residing in the country if their outlets primarily cater to an audience in Azerbaijan. It also requires outlets’ owners and directors to be Azerbaijani citizens with a higher education degree.

If an outlet is found to accept foreign funding or employ a director who does not meet those requirements, it could be suspended for two months; if its owner does not meet the requirements, or if an outlet repeatedly violates other regulations, it can be shut down permanently.

Read the full article here.