propaganda.lege.net/misperceptions/examples/rsf/azerbaijan
http://propaganda.lege.net/misperceptions/examples/rsf/azerbaijan/
Reporters Without Borders
Azerbaijan
Source: http://rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=7122
Or: http://rsf.fr/print.php3?id_article=7122
19.06.2003
The high cost of computers and ISP subscriptions, as well as poor-quality phone lines and equipment, hamper growth of the Internet, though the cost of connection is getting cheaper (now less than $1 an hour). More and more Azeris are using cybercafés in big towns but connection is still difficult in country areas. A dozen state and privately-owned ISPs are in operation, but the communications ministry takes a 51 per cent stake in all private ones, hands out operating licences to them and keeps control of transmission lines. The Internet is also overseen by the national security ministry, which monitors message activity by regime opponents, intellectuals and foreign businessmen. The state unofficially justifies this by a need to combat Armenian hackers, who have been targeting official Azeri sites for the past few years.
Access to the Russian-based news site Virtualnyi Monitor was temporarily blocked in March 2002 after it carried articles criticising the government.
In July that year, the Azerbaijan Internet Forum launched an online protest against government censorship which hampers the growth of the Internet in the country.
LINKS :
* The Azerbaijani service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: http://www.rferl.org/bd/az
* The news site Eurasianet: http://www.eurasianet.org/
* The independent news agency Turan: http://www.turaninfo.com/
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© Reporters Without Borders 2002
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