In response to the number of restrictive amendments to the NGO law adopted by the Azerbaijani Parliament- Milli Majlis in the end of December and as a follow up of the last conference by the CNIS and CLI the group of leading NGOs ( among them Public Intitiave Center, Center for National and International Studies, Azerbaijan Chapter of Helsinki Civil Assembly and many others) decided to restore created in 2009 the Civil Society Defence Committee ( CSDC) . It was agreed to conduct a series of activities directed to the prevention of signing of the amendments into the law by the president of the republic....


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Azerbaijan positioning itself as peacemaker but is accused of ethnic cleansing and imprisoning opponents...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Former MP and businessman Nazim Baydamirli is facing a 9-year prison sentence. On September 16, the prosecutor made this request at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, claiming that the former MP's demand for money through blackmail had been proven in court. However, Baydamirli disagrees. Before the prosecutor's statement—when the judge suggested concluding the investigation—he objected, stating that there were...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “These elections took place in a restrictive political and legal environment, the consequence of which was a lack of political pluralism coupled with the subdued and low-key campaign, all of which undermined the electoral process...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Lawyer Rufat Safarov stated that Sweden's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mr. Tobias Lorentzson, met with the family of prisoner of conscience Famil Khalilov. Diplomats from the embassies of Latvia and Estonia in Azerbaijan also attended the meeting. First-degree disabled person Famil Khalilov was deported...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Those who exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, should not be subjected to pressure...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms On August 16, new charges were brought against journalist Nargiz Absalamova, who was involved in the investigation of the "AbzasMedia case." This information was shared by the journalist's lawyer, Shahla Humbatova. "Nargiz Absalamova has been charged under several articles of the Criminal Code, including 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship, especially when committed for substantial profit),...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The government is aware of the growing discontent, particularly socio-economic grievances, official corruption, and lawlessness, but is unable to address them or make any substantial improvements...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms "The high-ranking officials of the detention center administer torture under the 'No to Torture!' slogans posted on the walls by the Ombudsman”, wrote political prisoner Ulvi Hasanli. Hasanli revealed shocking facts about the torture in Azerbaijani prisons. Currently jailed, journalist Ulvi Hasanli is the head of AbzasMedia....


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