Freedom in the World 2023: Basic Freedoms Continue to Deteriorate Worldwide
09 March 2023
The latest annual report from international human rights organization Freedom House, titled "Freedom in the World-2023," reveals that basic freedoms around the world have been steadily declining for the past 17 years. The report highlights that 16 of the 57 countries considered unfree also had the lowest scores on political rights and civil liberties, including Azerbaijan, South Sudan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Myanmar, Eritrea, North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Somalia, Tajikistan, and Yemen.
The report reveals that over the past 17 years, the number of countries and territories where there is no freedom of the media has increased from 14 to 33. The violation of the right to freedom of expression has also increased worldwide, mainly due to invasions of privacy, harassment, intimidation, and self-censorship on the internet.
Freedom House states that the decline of freedom and democracy is mainly due to wars, coups, and attacks by illegal leaders on democratic institutions. In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin's "authoritarian regime" launched a war against Ukraine, further suppressing the hard-won democratic process.
The report also highlights additional restrictions imposed on media activities and journalists by the parliaments of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with new legislation requiring foreign online platforms to register as local legal entities. The report mentions Armenia and Turkey as countries whose democratic paths are under the spotlight. The report claims that Azerbaijani forces attacked and seized Armenian territory along the border, increasing the risk of a full-scale war and threatening the democratic government in Yerevan.
The Azerbaijani authorities have yet to comment on the report, and they have traditionally claimed that fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, media, associations, and religions, are fully guaranteed in Azerbaijan. The government has also denied politically motivated arrests and torture allegations made by international organizations. The government of Azerbaijan says it is ready to sign a peace agreement with Armenia, but Yerevan is delaying the process. Therefore, official Baku calls critical reports of international organizations biased and unfair.
The report reveals that over the past 17 years, the number of countries and territories where there is no freedom of the media has increased from 14 to 33. The violation of the right to freedom of expression has also increased worldwide, mainly due to invasions of privacy, harassment, intimidation, and self-censorship on the internet.
Freedom House states that the decline of freedom and democracy is mainly due to wars, coups, and attacks by illegal leaders on democratic institutions. In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin's "authoritarian regime" launched a war against Ukraine, further suppressing the hard-won democratic process.
The report also highlights additional restrictions imposed on media activities and journalists by the parliaments of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with new legislation requiring foreign online platforms to register as local legal entities. The report mentions Armenia and Turkey as countries whose democratic paths are under the spotlight. The report claims that Azerbaijani forces attacked and seized Armenian territory along the border, increasing the risk of a full-scale war and threatening the democratic government in Yerevan.
The Azerbaijani authorities have yet to comment on the report, and they have traditionally claimed that fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, media, associations, and religions, are fully guaranteed in Azerbaijan. The government has also denied politically motivated arrests and torture allegations made by international organizations. The government of Azerbaijan says it is ready to sign a peace agreement with Armenia, but Yerevan is delaying the process. Therefore, official Baku calls critical reports of international organizations biased and unfair.
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