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   “Under the new Labour government, the exposure of expensive properties, offshore accounts, and money laundering schemes linked to the Azerbaijani elite is expected to intensify...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The detention period of three more individuals arrested in connection with the "Toplum TV case" has been extended. On July 4, by the decision of the Khatai District Court, the detention period for Akif Gurbanov, the head of the "Institute for Democratic Initiatives" and spokesperson for the "III Republic Platform", Ruslan Izzetli, a founding...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Elections cannot take place without schools being in session because the government's primary base for electoral fraud is in schools...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms After persistent demands from political detainee Alasgar Mammadli himself, his family, and the public, the court ruled that a needle biopsy should be performed on the 26 mm tumor discovered in his thyroid gland at a private clinic. According to the court order, the biopsy procedure was supposed to be conducted at a hospital chosen by Mammadli and by the doctors he selected. However,...


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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   “In our investigations, we reported on officials' involvement in smuggling. Now, being accused of smuggling ourselves is simply retaliatory…” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The appeal regarding the pre-trial detention ruling concerning Alasgar Mammadli, the founder of "Toplum TV," has been reviewed. In the session held at the Baku Court of Appeal, the defense team sought to annul the decision regarding the accused media expert due to his health condition. However, the court did not grant the request, and thus, the initial court's decision stands upheld. Niyamaddin...


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