The Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan issued a warning to the television channels “Space TV”, “MTV” and “ATV"

On November 21, 2022 the meeting of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held in online format. The meeting discussed the facts related to violations took place on channels "Space TV" and "MTV", which were discovered as a result of monitoring conducted on the basis of complaints received by the Council.

In the program "Gəl danış", broadcast on "Space TV" on 12.10.2022 and 13.10.2022 from 12:00 to 14:45, and in the program "Ümid ilə gəl", broadcast on "MTV" on 18.10.2022 and 19.10.2022 from 13:00 to 15:00, a person, participated in the program as a complainant, used obscene statements about his wife and her family. In turn, this is a violation of the requirements of Article 4.2.4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Protection of Children from Harmful Information" (distribution among children of information that discredits the institution of the family, is prohibited), and Article 14.1. 15 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Media" (the requirements of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Protection of Children from Harmful Information" shall be complied with).

The violation of the requirements of the same article of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Media", namely the requirements of Article 14.1.15 (the requirements of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Protection of Children from Harmful Information" shall be complied with) on 17.11.2022 on "ATV" was also discussed. Thus, in the program "Gunün sədası", broadcast from 12.00 to 13.50, the participant used approving expressions related to violence and cruelty, which contradicts the requirement of Article 4.2.4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Protection of Children from Harmful Information".

In all cases, violations occurred during the live broadcast. However, while the presenters of television editorial offices had to inform guests, experts and viewers that such expressions used by guests or experts were contrary to the law, but they did not interfere and thereby created conditions for the propaganda of violence and cruelty on the air.

After discussions the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, based on the aforementioned violations, issued a warning to the channels "Space TV", "ATV" and "MTV".