FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “This family’s greed knows no bounds. Everything must belong to them. From oil to gas, from gas to cotton, from cotton to hazelnuts—they never had enough. From gold mines to sand quarries, from technoparks to agro parks, from flower plantations to sunflower fields—everything is theirs.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The trial of Fazil Gasimov, a doctoral student from Istanbul University, continued at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Mahira Karimova. A preparatory hearing for Gasimov's case had taken place a month ago, during...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Corruption remains a major challenge for firms operating in Azerbaijan and a small group of government-connected holding companies dominates the economy...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov was reportedly tortured with an electric shock device while in detention at the police station. Ibrahimov was detained on the evening of July 22. His lawyer, Agil Layij, informed "Azadlıq Radiosu" that an unknown person attacked Ibrahimov near the Khalklar Dostlugu metro station. Subsequently, he was detained by plainclothes officers...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The international community, particularly the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE, should advocate for human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan in every high-level discussion with Azerbaijani authorities…”   (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Imran Aliyev, the director of the "Meclis.info" website, was apprehended at Heydar Aliyev International Airport on the evening of April 18th. Aliyev himself provided this information. He stated that he was detained while awaiting a flight and was handed...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI 07.10.2021 "She has been waiting for a year to kiss his "iron fist" What is Patriotism? Journalist in exile Sevinc Osmangizi shared a video in which a middle-aged woman is passionately telling president Aliyev that she has been dreaming of kissing his “iron fist” as a gesture to offer her endless gratitude and respect to the president for his victory in the war. The video ends with Aliyev refusing her to kiss his hands but instead hugging her. The footage caused mixed feelings among social media users, with the majority finding it shameful and disgraceful. While...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI 04.10.2021 “We knew this, everyone knows that he is a thief!” Governance, economy, corruption. In Azerbaijan, the week started with debates surrounding the documentary, that exposed large-scale corruption  involving ruling Aliyev family. “Pandora Papers: Secret wealth and dealings of world leaders exposed” was aired on BBC on Sunday evening revealing the expensive property bought by the Aliyevs in London. Azadliq Radiosu (Radio Liberty) reports that BBC television has broadcast the first part of a documentary which was about the property worth 440 million £ that...


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