Within the framework of the joint EU/CoE project “Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Azerbaijan” a round table on Defamation took place on 31 May 2016 in Baku. The conference, organised in close cooperation with the Azerbaijani Press Council, aimed to raise awareness on Council of Europe standards and best European practices on defamation and freedom of expression and to give the floor to open discussions on how to improve the national legislation concerning defamation and journalistic practice in Azerbaijan. About 60 representatives of state authorities (Presidential Administration, Milli Majlis, Ombudsman’s Office), academia, media professionals, representatives of civil society and international organisations attended the round table. Mr Patrick Penninckx, Head of Information Society Department of the Council of Europe, and Ms Herdis Thorgeirsdottir, Vice President of the Venice Commission, participated in this event.
