Students being enrolled at the Baku State University. (Photograph: Trend)
With some of the highest tuition fees in the region but low performance, critics say Azerbaijan’s education system doesn’t make the grade. [Read more…]
Police line up on Nizami street in central Baku march, 2011. Photograph: Getty images
New police units are to be created in Baku with the aim of fighting ‘cases contradictory to public morality’, especially sex-work. Critics say that this may be a cover for further state interference with independent social and political life.
(Mockup pictures credit: Mikroskop Media, Meydan TV)
Arzu Geybulla is a freelance writer originally from Azerbaijan, currently based in Istanbul.
In a country in need of far more profound reforms, cosmetic changes simply won’t do. The Azerbaijani government must address the underlying issues instead of buying time with occasional raises and lip-service amnesties.
The Baku Court of Appeals. (Official picture)
Security at the Baku Court of Appeals used pepper spray to subdue those convicted following the July 2018 Ganja protests after it was announced that they would not be released. Relatives of those convicted and human rights activists have argued that their cases were completely fabricated and that the detainees should be freed. [Read more…]
Protesters at Nasimi district 21st police station. (Nurlan Libre/Facebook)
Around 20 people marched through Baku’s Winter Park on Monday demanding the release of opposition politician Azad Hasanov and others widely considered by rights groups to be political prisoners. The protest was dispersed by the police and 13 of the marchers were detained.
[Read more…]
(Photo: MeydanTV)
Over the past six years, Azerbaijan’s civil society has deteriorated on all fronts. As the government continues to interfere with the activities of NGOs, prosecuting human rights defenders and political activists alike, banning them from travelling abroad, and freezing their bank accounts, the sector has become paralysed.
(report.az)
Azerbaijan is to increase the minimum monthly wage from ₼180 ($110) to ₼250 ($150) as of 1 September. [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…]
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…]
