AZERBAIJANI MEDIA BODIES, THE ACTIVITIES OF WHICH WERE SUSPENDED  OR FORCED TO MOVE TO AND SETTLE  IN OTHER TERRITORIES DURING THE FIRST KARABAKH WAR

After the occupation of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan and the surrounding districts during the Karabakh War I, 9 newspapers, 1 TV editorial office including 85 journalists and 37 technical personnel working in these editorial offices became IDPs and serious problems arose in their activities.

 

“Aghdam” Newspaper 

The newspaper was founded in the 1930s in the Agdam district under the name “ The Lenin’s Path” (Leninin yolu). “The Aghdam” Newspaper  continuously operated under various names until July 1993, when the Aghdam district was occupied by the Armenian armed forces. In 1990, its name was renamed and it was titled as the Agdam Newspaper. On the eve of the occupation of the district, in total 12 people - 9 journalists and 3 technical emplyees worked for the Aghdam Newspaper. The circulation of the newspaper  was 11,000 copies. On the eve of the occupation of the district, Babir Huseynov was the editor-in-chief of the newspaper.

Along with the newspaper, there was also a radio network in the district with two employees.

After the occupation of the Agdam district in 1993, the editorial office was moved to Barda city. Later, it was settled in Guzanlı settlement. During the period of displacement, there were problems in the publication of the newspaper; it was published with intervals. Due to impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased. The activity of the radio network was suspended.

 

“Khudafarin” Newspaper 

The newspaper was founded in 1932 in the Jabrayil district. The newspaper operated under various names until August 1993, when the distruct was occupied by the Armenian armed forces. In 1991, the title of the newspaper was changed into “Khudafarin” Newspaper. On the eve of the occupation of the district, in total 10 people, including 7 journalists and 3 technicians, worked for the newspaper. The circulation of the newspaper  was 5,000 copies. On the eve of the occupation of the district, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief was Afar Ahmedov, and later Seyfaddin Aliyev.

In addition to the newspaper, there was also a radio network in the district with two employees.

After the occupation of the Jabrail district in 1993, the editorial offices were first moved to Baku and then to the regions. During the period of displacement, there were problems in the publication of the newspaper, and it was published with intervals. Due to impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased.

 The activity of the radio network was suspended.

                             

“Araz” Newspaper 

The newspaper was established in the 1930s in the Fuzuli District. Until the occupation of the Fizuli district by the Armenian armed forces in 1993, it operated under various names. On the eve of the occupation of the region, in total 11 people worked for the “Araz” Newspaper, including 8 journalists and 3 technicians. On the eve of the occupation of the district, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Majnun Namazaliyev.

Along with the newspaper, there was a radio network in the district, which had two employees.

After the occupation of Fuzuli district in 1993, the editorial office was moved to other regions. During the period of displacement, there were problems with the publication of the newspaper;  which was published intermittently. Due to impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased.

The activity of the radio network was suspended.

 

“Kand hayati” Newspaper

The newspaper was founded  in the Zangilan district in the 1930s. It operated with interval until the occupation of Zangilan district by the Armenian armed forces in October 1993. On the eve of the occupation of the district, in total 10 people, including 7 journalists and 3 technicians, worked in the “Kand Hayati” (Life in the Village) Newspaper. On the eve of the occupation of the district, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Mursal Gojayev.

After the occupation of Zangilan district in 1993, the editorial office was moved to other districts. During the period of displacement, there were problems with the publication of the newspaper;  which was published intermittently. Due to impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased.

 

“Bargushad”  Newspaper 

The newspaper was founded in 1930 under the name of “Avangard” in the Gubadli district. It operated until 1993 when the Gubadli district was occupied by the Armenian armed forces. In 1990 the name ofthe newspaper was changed into “Bargushad”. On the eve of the occupation of the region, in total of 9 employees, including 6 journalists and 3 technicians, worked for the Bargushad Newspaper. On the eve of the occupation of the district, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Mahir Babayev.

In addition to the newspaper, there was also a radio network in the county with two employees.

After the occupation of the Gubadli district in 1993, the editorial office was moved to other districts. During the period of displacement, there were problems with the publication of the newspaper;  which was published with interval. Due to impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased.

The activity of the radio network was suspended.

 

 “Lachin” Newspaper

The newspaper was founded in the 1930s in the Lachin district. The Lachin Newspaper, which had been operating with interval until May 1992, when it was occupied by the Armenian armed forces. On the eve of the occupation of the region, in total 11 employees, including 8 journalists and 3 technicians, worked for the Bargushad Newspaper.

The newspaper was published with a circulation of 4,000 copies. On the eve of the occupation of the region, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Huseyn Hasanov.

In addition to the newspaper, there was also a radio network in the sistrict with two employees.

After the occupation of the Lachin district in 1993, the editorial office settled in the Aghjabadi district and then in the Ismayilly district.

During the period of displacement, there were problems with the publication of the newspaper;  it was published with interval. Due to impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased.

The activity of the radio network was suspended.

 

“Yenilik” Newspaper 

The newspaper was founded in the 1930s in the Kalbajar district. It operated uninterruptedly until April 1993, when the Kalbajar district was occupied by the Armenian armed forces. On the eve of the occupation of the district, “The Yenilik” (The Novelties) newspaper employed in total 18 people, 15 journalists and 3 technicians. The newspaper was published with a circulation of 5,000 copies. On the eve of the occupation of the district, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Zimistan Hasanov.

In addition to the newspaper, there was also a radio network in the district with two employees.

After the occupation of the Kalbajar district in 1993, the editorial office was moved to Ganja city. Its name was changed and published as “Kalbajar harayi” (Kalbajar’s Cry). During the period of displacement, there were problems in the publication of the newspaper; it was published with interval. Due to impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased.

The activity of the radio network was suspended.

 

"Voice of Khojaly" Newspaper 

The newspaper was founded in 1991 in the Khojaly district. Considering that the Khojaly region was attacked by armed forces in 1992, the newspaper's editorial office was located in the Tartar district. The newspaper was published in Tartar and distributed in Khojaly. On the eve of the occupation of the district, “The Voice of Khojaly” Newspaper employed in total 8 people, six of whom were journalists and two were technicians. The newspaper was published with a circulation of 3,000 copies. On the eve of the occupation of the district, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Sardar Mehdiyev. The newspaper is currently managed by Galib Baymammadoghlu.

After the occupation of the Khojaly district in 1992, the editorial office was moved to Barda city. Later, he was temporarily settled in Tatar, Baku, Ganja and other cities. During the period of displacement, there were problems in the publication of the newspaper, and it was  published with interval. Due to the impossibility, most of the employees were cut down and the  circulation decreased.

 

 “Shusha”  Newspaper 

The newspaper was founded in 1932 in Shusha. “The  Shusha” Newspaper operated uninterruptedly until the Shusha city was occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1992. On the eve of the occupation of the city, the Shusha newspaper employed in total 18 people, out of which 14 were journalists and 4 were technicians.  The newspaper was published with a circulation of 500 copies. On the eve of the occupation of the city, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Rafiga Taghiyeva.

After the occupation of Shusha in 1992, the editorial office was moved to Baku. During the period of displacement, there were problems in the publication of the newspaper; it was published with interval. Due to the impossibilities, most of the employees were cut down and the circulation was decreased.

 

 “Shusha” Television

It was founded in 1989 in Shusha. It was led by a team of 5 people sent from Baku by the Azerbaijan State Television. The delegation was headed by journalist Bakhtiyar Garaja. In 1990, when Soviet troops entered Baku on January 20th and committed massacres, the AzTV energy block was blown up, aiming to create an information blockade. In those days, Shusha TV played an important role in breaking the information blockade. However, due to the tense situation, the activities of the Shusha TV channel became impossible, and broadcasting was suspended.