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   “Samadov's case is part of a broader trend of increasing arrests of journalists, human rights activists, and civil society representatives in Azerbaijan since last year...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms In the Sabail District Court, a four-month pre-trial detention was ordered for political analyst Bahruz Samadov, who was detained last week. He is being charged under Article 274 of the Criminal Code (treason). This charge carries a potential sentence of 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment. Lawyer Zibeyde Sadigova has stated that they will appeal the decision....


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The beating and killing of citizens in police stations and departments has become commonplace...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms In the past few days, new disturbing cases of police brutality and torture were reported by the families of victims. Sumgayıt resident Elvin Iskandarov died at the police station. Family members claim that he was in fact tortured to death. The 37-year-old Elvin Iskandarov was taken to the police station late at night on June 14 along with several people, including his brothers. During the night of June 15, relatives who came...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Despite objections from the opposition and activists regarding the illogical closure of land borders for four years, the authorities have not taken them into consideration...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Elkhan Aliyev, an activist from the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party (AXCP), who has been imprisoned for 10 months, has announced that he will start a hunger strike to the death. At the Baku Court of Appeal, he declared that beginning on May 15, he will refuse both food and water. An AXCP official explained that Aliyev is taking this drastic step...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The suppression of free media, along with the unjust imprisonment of respected political leaders on unfounded and ludicrous charges, serves not only to instill fear in the entire society but also to challenge the democratic world by expanding the regime's repressive measures…” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Aziz Orujov, the imprisoned journalist, faces additional hardships as his brother, Anar Orujov, disclosed that the bank accounts of Aziz's wife and mother have been frozen, plunging them into a dire financial predicament. Anar Orujov expressed...


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