The Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a public legal entity with enforcement functions over the country’s media sector, was established on January 12, 2021, through a decree signed by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The agency provides professional training, financial support, and technology integration for media outlets, while also wielding the authority to pursue administrative offenses against print and online media and refer criminal cases to the relevant authorities. The creation revives centralized media oversight that had been abolished when Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe, raising concerns about the restoration of state supervision without public consultation.