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   “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...


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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   “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   “In a bid to stifle the rise of democracy in the region and cling onto power, the regime purposefully heightens tensions between our nation and Europe…” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Lawyer Fakhraddin Mehdiyev visited Niyamaddin Ahmadov, the security guard of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) chairman, at Detention Facility No. 12. Mehdiyev reported that although Ahmadov remains on a hunger strike, his health condition is relatively stable despite some concerns. He relayed the appeals from party leadership and family members urging Ahmadov...


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