Avtandil Mammadov at a protest in May calling for the release of Afgan Mukhtarli. (Mari Nikuradze / OC Media)
An Azerbaijani activist being sought by Azerbaijan via Interpol has been arrested in Georgia, where he was seeking asylum. Azerbaijan has accused him of fraud while his lawyer said he was being persecuted for his criticism of the government. [Read more…]
(Caspiannews)
Beyond the international headlines about Mkhitaryan and inconvenienced fans, the people of Azerbaijan faced travel restrictions and more because of the game. But despite complaints of few economic or sporting benefits of playing host, some say it is still beneficial in drawing attention to human rights abuses in the country. [Read more…]
Fuad Abbasov (Report.az)
Azerbaijani journalist Fuad Abbasov has announced that he is on hunger strike after Russian authorities detained him on the way to the airport after ordering him to leave the country. [Read more…]
(OC Media)
Armenia has abstained from voting on a UN resolution calling for the return of IDPs to Abkhazia and South Ossetia for the first time since 2008, when the resolution was first introduced. Armenia had previously always voted against the resolution in the annual votes at the UN General Assembly. [Read more…]
Sanubar and her daughter. (Gulnur Kazimova / OC Media)
Despite tightening laws against early marriages in Georgia, among the country’s ethnic Azerbaijani population, they remain common. The results of such marriages are often tragic, with young girls leaving education, becoming victims of domestic violence, or in some cases, dying. [Read more…]
Marneuli Public Library (Rahim Shaliyev /OC Media)
Azerbaijan has been supplying Georgian libraries with books containing hate speech against Armenians. While the libraries don’t see them as a problem, some Azerbaijani Georgians fear they might help plant the seeds of ethnic tension.
Sevinj Vagifgizi (Facebook)
A woman in Azerbaijan is suing a journalist for filming her appearing to commit election fraud during last year’s presidential election. [Read more…]
‘I’m proud that I have come so far being who I am and didn’t give in’, Drago says. (Tamuna Chkareuli / OC Media)
Despite widespread homophobic attitudes throughout the Caucasus, there are some queer people who find acceptance for who they are — from their co-workers, their friends, and their families. Below are the stories of three queer people, from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. [Read more…]
The building is a former Molokan church (Leyli Gafarova)
Around 200 people have occupied a building in Baku’s Nasimi District to prevent it from being demolished. Activists say they will not leave the former Molokan church and site of Azerbaijan’s first radio station until it is included in the Ministry of Culture’s list of protected historic buildings. [Read more…]
Davit Gareji (Zviad Ananiashvili / Facebook)
Azerbaijan has restored access to Udabno Monastery, a part of the Davit Gareji Monastery Complex at the undelimited Azerbaijani-Georgian border in southeastern Georgia. Visitors and clergy were barred from reaching the monastery for several days by Azerbaijani border guards. [Read more…]
