Azerbaijan.US
Chairman of the White Party Tural Abbasly has warned that vague legal language in Azerbaijan’s media and social media regulations could open the door to arbitrary enforcement, including potential penalties linked to on-air appearance and personal expression.
Speaking on Musavat TV, Abbasly said current and proposed norms lack clear definitions of what constitutes “immorality,” “insult,” or unacceptable behavior, creating legal uncertainty for broadcasters, journalists, and ordinary social media users. According to him, the absence of precise criteria makes it unclear whether penalties would involve fines, administrative sanctions, or more serious consequences.
He argued that such legal gaps allow for selective interpretation and abuse, particularly outside major cities, where individuals may have limited access to legal protection. Abbasly cited examples in which ordinary citizens could face pressure or informal demands under the pretext of newly introduced or poorly defined rules.
While supporting the idea of regulating social media in principle, Abbasly stressed that any such legislation must be clearly defined and publicly debated. He said laws should be developed with the participation of legal experts, linguists, and representatives of political parties not represented in parliament.
According to Abbasly, adopting regulations without clear boundaries and inclusive discussion risks turning media and online regulation into an instrument of discretion rather than law, undermining trust in the legislative process itself.
