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Azerbaijan Ranked “Not Free” in 2025 Internet Freedom Report

· 3 min read
Baku​

Azerbaijan has once again been rated “Not Free” in Freedom House’s newly released Freedom on the Net 2025 report, which tracks global trends in digital rights, access, and online expression across 70 countries. According to the report, Azerbaijan scored 34 out of 100 points on the overall Internet Freedom Index, placing it among the countries with the most restricted digital environments. The report covers developments between June 2024 and May 2025.

“Azerbaijan remains one of the least free digital environments in the Eurasian region,” the report notes, adding that “technical filtering,internet shutdowns, and intimidation of online voices have become routine tools of governance.” Among South Caucasus states, Azerbaijan ranks lowest for internet freedom. Georgia and Armenia, both rated “Partly Free,” scored significantly higher with 74 and 65 points respectively. The gap reflects not only infrastructural differences but also diverging levels of media pluralism and government transparency.

Compared to its neighbors, Azerbaijan exhibits higher barriers to connectivity, particularly outside Baku, where infrastructure quality and affordability remain limited. The government continues to maintain strong control over domain registration, digital licensing, and internet service providers, most of which are state-owned or closely affiliated with government agencies.

The 2025 report marks the 15th consecutive year of global decline in internet freedom. Freedom House highlights that authoritarian regimes, including Azerbaijan, are increasingly using digital tools for information control, censorship, and surveillance. Azerbaijan’s ranking has remained stagnant since 2022, when it received a similar score, suggesting no meaningful progress in expanding digital freedoms or safeguarding online rights.

Freedom House’s analysis connects Azerbaijan’s digital repression with broader constraints on political and civil liberties. In its Freedom in the World 2025 report, Azerbaijan scored only 7 out of 100, classified as a “Consolidated Authoritarian Regime.” Analysts warn that this restrictive environment limits public debate, curbs innovation, and undermines investor confidence in the country’s digital economy.

“Without transparent regulation, independent oversight, and protection of online speech, Azerbaijan risks further isolation in the global digital landscape,” said one regional policy expert.

Freedom on the Net 2025 is an annual global study by Freedom House, an independent watchdog organization based in Washington, D.C. The report assesses 70 countries, covering 88 percent of the world’s internet users. Scores are based on expert surveys, documented incidents, and legal analysis.

Freedom House evaluates each country across three main categories — Obstacles to Access, Limits on Content, and Violations of User Rights. Azerbaijan’s scores were:

  • 12/25 for Obstacles to Access
  • 13/35 for Limits on Content
  • 9/40 for Violations of User Rights The findings indicate widespread state control and surveillance over online activity, limited access to independent news websites, and continued prosecutions of journalists, bloggers, and activists for social media posts.

The full report is available on Freedom House’s official website.