For some time now, Azadliq newspaper, recognized as one of the last remaining independent news outlets in Azerbaijan was facing possibility of closure. The on-going crackdown in the country against independent journalists and media outlets, the financial difficulties, have made the paper vulnerable to pressure.
On Thursday, June 25, the paper said its closure is imminent unless the financial difficulties are resolved.
The paper already suspended its print in July 2014 amid the summer of unprecedented crackdown in the country. In addition, the paper also faced defamation suits with heavy fines.
One of Azadliq's journalists, Seymur Hezi was arrested and then sentenced to five years in jail for "aggravated hooliganism" in 2014.