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Charges dropped against Huseynov after thousands rally in Baku

21 January 2019 by OC Media

(Meydan TV)

The Azer­bai­jani author­i­ties have dropped new charges against impris­oned anti-cor­rup­tion blogger Mehman Huseynov following large protests in the capital. Thousands gathered in Baku on Saturday calling for Huseynov’s release and an end to political pros­e­cu­tions and cor­rup­tion in the country.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: News Stories Tagged With: Azerbaijan, human rights, hunger stri, ilham aliyev, mehman huseynov, Musuvat, political prisoners, protest, REAL

Mass hunger strikes in Azerbaijan against ‘political prosecutions’

15 January 2019 by Gulnur Kazimova

Members of the oppo­si­tion Musavat party on hunger strike (Khadija Ismay­ilo­va / Facebook)

At least 20 people both in prison and on the outside are now on hunger strike in Azer­bai­jan in protest against political pros­e­cu­tions in the country, local activists say. [Read more…]

Filed Under: News Stories Tagged With: amnesty international, Azerbaijan, Elman Fattah, freedom house, human rights, human rights house, human rights watch, hunger strike, khadija ismayilova, mehman huseynov, Musavat, political prisoners, Tofig Yagublu

‘Banned without explanation’: The special prohibitions faced by Azerbaijan’s ‘political prisoners’

11 December 2018 by Gulnur Kazimova

A poster saying ‘Freedom to political prisoners’ (Voice of America)

While Azerbaijan’s author­i­ties deny that there are political prisoners in the country’s prisons at all — local and inter­na­tion­al rights groups disagree. Many former prisoners and their families complain that those locked up on political grounds face not only an unjust depri­va­tion of their liberty, but special pro­hi­bi­tions such as on reading and speaking with their families.   [Read more…]

Filed Under: Society, Top Tagged With: afgan mukhtarli, Azerbaijan, human rights, Ilkin Rustamzadeh, İlkin Rüstəmzadə, mukhtarli, political prisoners

Azerbaijan: a hostile environment for genuine opposition parties

11 July 2018 by Kamran Mahmudov

2013 Azer­bai­jani oppo­si­tion rally (RFE/RL)

Nearly five years after the Azer­bai­jani gov­ern­ment began a renewed crackdown on dis­sent­ing voices, the envi­ron­ment remains hostile for oppo­si­tion parties. The author­i­ties create the semblance of a multi-party system by financing political parties whose role is to function as the oppo­si­tion while main­tain­ing the status quo. Some fear that sup­press­ing genuine oppo­si­tion and excluding it from the political arena will lead to more radical forms of activism, which could ulti­mate­ly be damaging for the state.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Society, Top Tagged With: Azerbaijan, democracy, opposition, political prisoners, politics

Opinion | The EU Parliament makes it clear — no deal for Azerbaijan unless it improves its rights record

6 July 2018 by Philippe Dam

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev (L) arrives for a meeting with European Com­mis­sion President Jean-Claude Juncker at the EU Com­mis­sion head­quar­ters in Brussels, Belgium on February 6, 2017. (François Lenoir /Reuters)

Philippe Dam is advocacy director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch.

The European Par­lia­ment, the EU’s elected rep­re­sen­ta­tives, have made clear they will not ratify a deal with Azer­bai­jan unless it improves it’s human rights record. The European Com­mis­sion should now follow through with a clear message — Azerbaijan’s crackdown on dissent must end and political prisoners freed.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Opinion & Analysis Tagged With: afgan mukhtarli, Azerbaijan, civil society, european commission, european union, media freedom, mehman huseynov, political prisoners

A government’s fear or bargaining chips — Political prisoners in Azerbaijan

25 December 2017 by Gulnur Kazimova

Leyla Mustafaye­va with her daughter.

The number of political prisoners in Azer­bai­jan is among the highest in Europe. This repres­sion serves not only as a tactic of intim­i­dat­ing jour­nal­ists, activists, and the oppo­si­tion, but also an instru­ment of foreign policy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Society, Top Tagged With: afgan mukhtarli, Azerbaijan, freedom of expression, freedom of media, freedom of speech, human rights, journalists, khadija ismayilova, leyla mustafayeva, media, mukhtarli, political prisoners

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