The CNIS held its next in the series of “Azerbaijan Democratic Republic ( 1918-1920)  Round Tables” conference on the 8th of February in Baku. The round table was devoted to the political parties and elections and their characteristics in the oil rich post-Soviet states. Development of the democratic institutions in the post-Soviet oil rich states of the Caspian region faces additional to the common soviet legacies structural obstacles. These characteristics include first of all ruling elite’s monopoly over oil and gas resources, which in the absence of the real mechanisms of the public...


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    FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The proposed Law on Political Parties serves to dismantle the legal framework of the political system.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Liberties The Baku Court of Appeal returned the appeal of the Surakhani District Court regarding the denial of conditional release of human rights defender Elchin Mammad. The NGO “Legal Education of Sumgayit Youth,” headed by Mammad, shared a statement regarding the decision of the court. Mammad regards this as a violation of his right to appeal to the court. Although Mammad had no previous disciplinary...


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      FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The government, which is interested in attracting tourists and investment to the country, would establish a normal judicial, health, and police system in the country.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Liberties The Muslim Union Movement has appealed to human rights organizations, NGOs, and theologians, as well as a number of political and public figures, regarding the hunger strike of the members of the movement in prison. The appeal says: “While this situation has reached this point, it is necessary to address you as the leading...


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      FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “It is neither a coincidence nor a sign of good intentions that Russia grew interested in Azerbaijan.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Liberties Elshan Abbasov, a member of the Muslim Union Movement who was arrested on trumped-up charges, is held in an overcrowded prison in Kurdakhani. The prison barrack where Abbasov serves his sentence has only eight beds, but at the moment, there are 16 prisoners sharing the same barrack. Journalist Afgan Muktarli reports that Abbasov is not allowed to meet with family members. Another prisoner,...


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      FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Those who were looking for the 5th column in Azerbaijan were the 5th column of Russia in our country.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Liberties Lawyer Rufat Safarov reports that seven street sweepers in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic were detained for 15 days after complaining about the work conditions. Safarov added that considering the previous cases, the sweepers are more likely to be tortured while in detention. Meydan TV reports that a trans woman Aydan Pashayeva has been in the intensive care unit of Central Hospital...


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