The Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan has approved, in the first reading, the establishment of a unified regulatory body for the media sector, to be known as the Media and Broadcasting Council.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the legislative changes to the laws "On Civil Service" and "On Media" were brought to the floor during today's extraordinary session of the parliament.
The proposed legislation stems from the necessity to transition toward a more agile and collegial mechanism for regulating the media landscape in Azerbaijan. This shift is designed to ensure national information security and bolster the economic independence of the media sector. By integrating oversight for print, online, and audiovisual media, the new framework aims to eliminate fragmented regulatory boundaries and establish a unified approach to the country's information ecosystem.
It was emphasized that the creation of the Media and Broadcasting Council, which will operate under a collegial management model, is intended to enhance public trust and ensure the independence of media outlets. The duties and obligations of the Council will be formally codified within the Law "On Media," providing a clear legal framework for its operations.
The legislative package also includes necessary adjustments to the Law "On Civil Service" to accommodate the establishment of this new authority. Officials noted that these reforms are aimed at modernizing regulatory standards, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and ensuring that Azerbaijan's media legal framework aligns with international best practices.
Following parliamentary deliberations, the bill was put to a vote and successfully passed its first reading.
The establishment of such a council reflects a broader trend in many nations to centralize media regulation to better address the challenges of the digital age, including the rapid spread of information and the need for robust cybersecurity measures within the national media space.
