Azerbaijan Introduces New Restrictions on NGOs and Foreign Media

Azerbaijan introduced amendments to the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations (Public Associations and Funds) and the Law on Combating the Legalization of Criminally Obtained Property and the Financing of Terrorism (second reading) on July 14.

The amendments restrict banking and other financial operations arising from contracts for the provision of services or execution of works funded by unregistered foreign financial sources. Additionally, providing services or undertaking work under unregistered contracts involving foreign financial sources — or receiving financial or material assets in connection with such activities — will result in administrative liability, as per established procedures.

These new rules cut off key avenues for NGOs to receive and use foreign funds unless the source is officially registered and approved by the government.

In terms of penalties:

Failure to submit contracts for registration can result in fines of 1,500 to 2,500 AZN for individuals, and 5,000 to 7,000 AZN for legal entities.
Providing services or receiving funds under unregistered contracts may lead to fines of 2,500 to 5,000 AZN for individuals, and 8,000 to 15,000 AZN for legal entities.

These measures are part of a broader trend of tightening government control over civil society and media in Azerbaijan — a trend that has accelerated in recent years. Notably, earlier legal changes, especially those introduced since 2014, have already made it significantly more difficult for NGOs, particularly those receiving foreign funding, to operate.

Azerbaijan’s Amendments to the Law on Media

During the same parliamentary session, lawmakers also discussed and adopted amendments to the Law on Media.

One key change is the broadening of the definition of “Media Entity” to include branches and representative offices of foreign media outlets operating in Azerbaijan. The regulation of these entities will now be governed by international agreements. Under the new rules:

Foreign media branches and representative offices must first register with the State Tax Service (STS).
They must then apply for inclusion in the official Media Register.

The term “foreign journalists” will also be replaced with “foreign media representatives.”

Another significant amendment introduces a prohibition on the publication and dissemination of false information. While intended to target misinformation, the vague language could be used to suppress critical or investigative journalism.

New requirements are also being introduced for news agencies, including:

A minimum number of accredited journalists in foreign countries.
Formal contracts for information exchange with other media entities.
Defined minimum proportions of original content produced by the agency itself.

Restrictions on Media Entity Names and Conduct

A new provision will ensure that the names of media outlets and their editorial offices are not identical or confusingly similar to existing entities. Names must also avoid expressions that contradict public order, morality, or ethics, or that could mislead the public.

To prevent abuse by unregistered outlets:

Newspapers not included in the Media Register will be prohibited from publishing.
Outlets accused of publishing blackmail, libelous, biased, or false information may also face bans on publication and dissemination.
Operating without inclusion in the Media Register is now formally classified as illegal media activity.

Azerbaijan Media Development Agency has Increased Power

The Media Development Agency has been granted expanded powers to:

Take measures regarding prohibited materials published in both traditional and online media, including foreign media branches and their digital platforms.

An amendment to the Civil Code now allows the State Tax Service, at the Agency’s request, to dissolve and remove foreign media offices from the state register, without following the standard procedures for dissolving legal entities outlined in Articles 59–61 of the Civil Code.

Administrative and Legal Implications

The Code of Administrative Offenses now outlines penalties for:

The publication or dissemination of print media by entities not included in the Media Register.

Additionally, under the Law on State Registration and State Register of Legal Entities:

A foreign media branch or representative office operating without authorization under an international agreement, or excluded from the Media Register, can be dissolved by the State Tax Service.

What These Changes Mean

The Media Development Agency now holds substantial power to restrict content it deems inappropriate — even in online formats.
The expanded definition of “Media Entity” brings foreign media outlets under the same restrictive framework as domestic ones.
Foreign media offices must undergo dual registration (with the STS and the Media Register); failing to comply can lead to fines, operational bans, and content takedowns.
The new ban on “false information,” due to its vague language, could be weaponized to silence independent media.
News agencies now face quantitative operational thresholds, such as contracts with at least 20 other outlets and accreditation in five or more foreign countries.
Print media not listed in the Media Register are prohibited from publishing. Those accused of “blackmail,” bias, or libel — as defined by authorities — may also be banned.
The State Tax Service, upon the Media Development Agency’s request, can now dissolve foreign media offices without standard legal review, especially if they lack formal international agreements.
The new amendments formalize penalties for media outlets that operate outside the official registry.

Lawyer and civil society expert Samed Rahimli has emphasized the gravity of the amendments, noting that they effectively close the only remaining legal pathway through which NGOs could operate with international partners. Service agreements had been widely used in recent years to bypass the harsh restrictions placed on grants. According to Rahimli, these amendments represent a total blockade on NGO activity and signal the state’s intent to eliminate any independent civic engagement. He further argues that the changes contradict both Article 58 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which protects the right to freedom of association, and the country’s obligations under international treaties, including Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Rahimli also highlighted that these legal changes appear to formalize recent government behavior, including actions taken in connection with the so-called “USAID criminal case” earlier this year. In that case, the authorities began treating service agreements as suspect and effectively blocked their use. Now, that unofficial stance has become codified in law. The official justification—improving transparency—is undermined by the fact that Azerbaijani legislation already provides sufficient oversight tools. For example, Article 29 of the Law on NGOs allows the Ministry of Justice to monitor NGO activities. As such, these new registration requirements serve less to promote transparency and more to prevent funding, especially from foreign sources. Legal experts and civil society leaders view them as instruments of financial asphyxiation rather than regulation.

Previously, The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe examined the media law introduced in 2021 and unequivocally criticised it as “overregulation in an already restrictive environment,” noting it focuses on restricting media activities rather than enabling the press’s public watchdog role. Despite domestic and international calls to repeal or amend the law, Azerbaijani authorities have pressed forward, tightening legal control over who is allowed to practice journalism.