CPJ, New York, 30 Dec 2008 – The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement after Azerbaijan’s National Council on Television and Radio announced today that it would discontinue the local licenses of international broadcasters Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, and the BBC as of January 1, 2009.

OSCE, Vienna, 30 Dec 2008 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, criticized Azerbaijan’s decision today to bar foreign broadcasters from FM radio frequencies as a serious step backwards for democracy, and urged Baku to reconsider.

Day.az, Baku, 30 Dec 2008 – The transmission of foreign radio stations on the national frequencies of Azerbaijan will stop from January 1 of 2009. The decision of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting was voiced by its chairman Nushirevan Meherremli.

CPJ, New York, 30 Dec 2008 – Kazakh authorities must launch a thorough investigation into the stabbing of Artyom Miusov, a reporter with the opposition weekly Taszhargan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Kazakhstan Today, Astana, 26 Dec 2008 - Almaty. December 26. Kazakhstan Today – Government of Kazakhstan approved a list of territories of the republic, which are temporarily closed to be attended by foreigners, agency reports with reference to official mass media.

YPC, Yerevan, 26 Dec 2008 – On December 24 the Police Department of Kentron community of Yerevan charged freelance journalist Gagik Shamshian and correspondent of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” newspaper Gohar Vezirian with Part 1 of Article 343 of the RA Criminal Code (“Disrespect to Court”).

Media.ge, Tbilisi, 26 Dec 2008 – Giorgi Vekua, Tsalenjikha Minicipality Sakrebulo deputy of the governing United National Movement demands the local regional authorities to quit exerting pressure upon the local Jikha TV.

Fergana.ru, Moscow, 22 Dec 2008 – Political immigrant and Erk party leader Muhammad Salikh proclaimed the beginning of unification of the Uzbek opposition in early December. It is common knowledge meanwhile that all previous attempts at consolidation ended with nothing to show for the effort.

Media.ge, Tbilisi, 24 Dec 2008 – On December 23 the Parliament, through the second hearing, adopted draft amendments to the Code of Conduct of Broadcasters according to which the alienation of the state-owned shares in the broadcasting companies or the liquidation of relevant legal person shall be provided until January 1, 2011.

CJTeam, Yerevan, 22 Dec 2008 – On December 16 presentation of two scientific electronic journals took place at Congress Hotel in Yerevan. The electronic journals “Armenian Journal of Mathematics” and “Armenian Journal of Physics” are published as Open Access Journals under Creative Commons License.

IRFS, Baku, 22 Dec 2008 – Today, 22 December, in the Yasamal District Court, under the Chairmanship of Judge Svetlana Ahmadova, a preliminary hearing was held on the lawsuit of Azerbaijan International University (AIU) Rector Elshad Abdullayev against “Gundalik Baki” Newspaper

Today.az, Baku, 19 Dec 2008 – The aim of our visit to Azerbaijan, along with the participation in the session of the Coordination Council of the World Azerbaijan is to meet with different countries including several ministers of the Azerbaijani government, said vice president of the community of US Mountain Jews and member of the [...]

RFE/RL, Bishkek, 17 Dec 2008 – Cholpon Orozobekova, editor in chief of the leading independent newspaper in Kyrgyzstan, “De Facto,” has left the country and is seeking political asylum in a European country.