The former Soviet republics that most violate freedom of information – Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan – are subjected to little pressure from the international community, says the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders.

The countries are subjected to little pressure for the simple reason that they are rich in oil and gas deposits, and pipelines, the report said.

“Rich enough to feel untouchable, they are also wooed because of the strategic importance. So for the time being they keep their news media under tight control and jail recalcitrant journalists with complete impunity,” the experts believe.

According to the report, more repression is also the strategy being adopted in Azerbaijan, where the very survival of media pluralism is in danger.

“The TV stations are under government control, the main foreign radio stations are banned, and the main opposition newspaper barely circulates except in the capital and is on the verge of financial extinction. At the same time, recalcitrant journalists and bloggers are exposed to physical attacks, death threats, smear campaigns and abduction. Will the emergence of new alternative exile media save pluralism?”