General information on the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan

General information about the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan is a state authority regulating the field of audiovisual media. The main areas of activity of the Council include:

•    regulating the field of audiovisual media;
•    monitoring compliance with the applicable normative legal acts;
•    participating in the development of state policy in the field of audiovisual media and ensuring the implementation of this policy;
•    operating in other areas as determined by the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Media”.

The main functions of the Audiovisual Council include:

•    participating in the development and implementation of normative legal acts, development concepts and target programs in the field of audiovisual media;
•    adopting of regulatory acts in the field of audiovisual media;
•    determining sound and image quality indicators of audiovisual broadcasting;
•    issuing licenses for audiovisual media entities;
•    carrying out inspections in order to monitor compliance with legislative requirements in the field of audiovisual media;
•    adopting decisions that are binding for audiovisual media entities;
•    implementing radio frequencies planning of terrestrial broadcasting;
•    granting consent for the transmission of programs of foreign audiovisual broadcasters by using the services of the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
•    ensuring the fulfilment of the obligations of the Republic of Azerbaijan on issues regulated  by international treaties to which Republic of Azerbaijan is a party, and falling within the competence of the Council; 
•    taking measures in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Media” and the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Azerbaijan in case of detection of signs of administrative offenses in the field of audiovisual media;
•    performing other functions arising from the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Media”.

The Audiovisual Council is financed from the state budget and other sources not prohibited by law. The Council has organizational and functional independence, and any unlawful interference in its activities is inadmissible.

The Audiovisual Council operates as a collegial body composed of seven members, including the Chairperson. The members of the Council are appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The term of office of the members is five (5) years. The same person cannot be a member of the Council more than twice in a row.