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...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

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...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Aliyev relies on non-democratic regimes to protect his autocratic rule from the "dangerous" concepts of democracy, free elections, and popular sovereignty that might come from the United States and the European Union...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) issued an official statement on July 3 regarding Azerbaijan. The Committee reports ongoing lack of cooperation from the Azerbaijani authorities. "The exceptional decision to issue an official statement stems from Azerbaijan's persistent...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The quarantine regime gives additional opportunities to arrest people on false charges. Creating a closed society is the ideal of the family-feudal regime...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The health condition of Anar Mammadli, the imprisoned head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), has deteriorated, according to his relatives who visited him recently. Mammadli, who suffers from obstructive bronchitis, had been receiving treatment and regular inhalation therapy prior to his imprisonment. However, the lack of access to fresh...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Today, Azerbaijan is governed by Stalin and his NKVD methods. Just as Stalin sent directives demanding 'beat them until they confess,' the NKVD executed them...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Interrogations of Journalists in the "Smuggling Case" Continue. Journalist Alya Yagublu has been summoned to the Baku City Main Police Department (BCMPD). She informed "Abzas Media" about this herself. Alya Yagublu stated that she was called to the department in relation to the "Toplum TV case." "They have summoned me for June 6 at 11:00 AM. The person who called...


 QuickView | Read Full Article