FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “International events like COP29 should not be used to gloss over the repressions of Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime. Instead, attendees—politicians, activists and journalists—discussing climate change in Baku should also raise awareness of the political prisoners unjustly detained and suffering in Azerbaijan’s prisons.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Azerbaijani political refugee Vidadi Isgandarli, who resides in France, was attacked on Sunday and is in critical condition. Exiled journalist Ganimat Zahid reported this on his social media...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Citizens of other countries are still able to enter Azerbaijan via land borders, meaning that the closure only applies to Azerbaijani citizens, which violates the country’s Constitution.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms On September 25, the trial of human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev continued at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev filed a motion stating that he does not wish to participate in the upcoming court hearings due to reasons such as the "artificial prolongation of the process" and the "rejection of all motions." Hajiyev...


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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   “The reason for the recent detentions might be that there is a preparation for a new war, and in this case, the regime do not want any dissenting opinions to appear even on social networks, meaning they do not want any views contrary to regime propaganda...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms On August 28, the Baku Court of Appeals rejected the appeal against the Khatai District Court's decision to impose pre-trial detention on Anar Mammadli, head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS). Jailed activist Akif Gurbanov Nominated for the Václav...


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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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