FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The next parliamentary election is not an election, but a cheap play scripted to fit Ilham Aliyev's desires, with predetermined outcomes...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The preliminary hearing of political prisoner Sahib Mammadzade, chairman of the AXCP Dashkasan Regional Council, took place at the Ganja Serious Crimes Court. During the hearing, lawyer Zabil Gahramanov filed a petition requesting that Mammadzade be released under house arrest. However, presiding judge Natig Aliyev denied this petition and ordered that Mammadzade remain in custody....


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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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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Whenever corruption or the laundering of illicit funds is investigated worldwide, the corrupt activities of the Azerbaijani government and ruling family come to light...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The National Council of Democratic Forces submitted a request to the Baku City Executive Authority to organize a rally on May 19. Previously, the executive authority had denied the National Council's requests for rallies on April 21 and May 5. According to opposition leader  Ali Karimli's statement to Meydan TV, the primary aim of the National Council's...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Opposition members were generally more likely than other citizens to experience official harassment and arbitrary arrest and detention. Members of opposition political parties continued to be arrested, convicted, and sentenced to administrative detention after making social media posts critical of the government or participating in peaceful rallies.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The head of the "Majlis.info" platform, Imran Aliyev, has once again been subjected to torture after revealing that he was given electric shocks while in detention. This...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The international community, particularly the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE, should advocate for human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan in every high-level discussion with Azerbaijani authorities…”   (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Imran Aliyev, the director of the "Meclis.info" website, was apprehended at Heydar Aliyev International Airport on the evening of April 18th. Aliyev himself provided this information. He stated that he was detained while awaiting a flight and was handed...


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