FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The regime believes that even the smallest political concession—such as dismantling the physical cages built around Baku’s streets or opening a single land border crossing—would lead to everything collapsing, bringing the regime down with it...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Fazil Gasimov, a PhD student at Istanbul University who was detained in Turkey in August 2023 and brought to Azerbaijan, has been on a hunger strike for 90 days while in prison. Human rights defender, the executive director of the "Defense Line" human rights organization...


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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   “Azerbaijan is a monarchy with an electoral system...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Adil Baba, a member of the Popular Front Party (AXCP), tragically succumbed to the relentless police and administrative persecution, pressures, and threats, ultimately taking his own life. Like many others in the Party, Adil was constantly targeted. Recently, he received compensation from the government following a decision by the European Court of Human Rights regarding previous persecutions. Reports indicate that he and his family faced regular threats reminiscent...


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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   "Azerbaijan is an increasingly repressive state with a widely-recognised corruption problem...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The Khatai District Court has ruled to extend the detention of three journalists involved in the "AbzasMedia case." Bail has been denied for Ulvi Hasanli, the director of "AbzasMedia," Sevinj Vagifgizi, the chief editor, and Imran Aliyev, the head of the meclis.info platform, regarding their release. Ulvi Hasanli has also filed a request to see his infant child. Amidst the recent wave of arrests targeting journalists and civil...


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