24 November 2006, 23:09
Azerbaijani authorities stop the ANS independent TV channel
Today's sitting of the National TV and Radio Board (NTRB) of Azerbaijan has made a decision not to extend the license of the ANS TV and Radio Channel. Starting 3:00 p.m. today, the broadcasting of the TV channel has been stopped.
Vakhid Mustafaev, president of the ANS, told journalists about his intention to go to court and personally to President Ilkham Aliev.
Making her comments to journalists on stopping the ANS TV channel, Leila Yunus, director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, noted that "the fact of stopping the ANS TV channel ANS is an indication of not even a fast pace, but of a sprint race of Azerbaijani authorities is fighting the freedom of speech and banning all independent mass media."
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent