FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The beating and killing of citizens in police stations and departments has become commonplace...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms In the past few days, new disturbing cases of police brutality and torture were reported by the families of victims. Sumgayıt resident Elvin Iskandarov died at the police station. Family members claim that he was in fact tortured to death. The 37-year-old Elvin Iskandarov was taken to the police station late at night on June 14 along with several people, including his brothers. During the night of June 15, relatives who came...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The real smugglers, those who illicitly transfer the nation's riches overseas, remain free. We are being accused of smuggling because we investigated them...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms In the criminal case related to "AbzasMedia," the detention of journalist, Sevinj Vagifgizi (Abbasova), the editor-in-chief of the publication, has been extended for an additional three months. Sevinj Vagifgizi participated in the court hearing, presided over by Judge Fuad Akhundov. The journalist stated that the smuggling charges against her are fabricated and that...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The political authorities, through systematic and extensive repressions, aim not only to physically punish and wear us down but also to discredit us in the eyes of the public by resorting to all sorts of slander and false accusations...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms On Thursday another detention was carried out in Baku. Economist Farid Mehralizadeh was detained, as reported by journalist Aytaj Tapdig, who noted on her social media that police officers took Mehralizadeh away in a black car in front of his house. Also, his wife, women's rights researcher...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “There is no compelling rationale or justification for the government to reject the opposition's rally. Rejecting it would signify an admission of weakness, representing a moral and political failure of the government…” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Summoning of journalists to the police has resumed, indicating a potential for new arrests. On April 17, journalist Mina Alyarli was called to appear at the Baku City Main Police Department at 4:00 PM. The head investigator of the Serious Crimes Investigation Department, Togrul Huseynov, contacted Alyarli...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The Heydar Aliyev dynasty is a curse upon Azerbaijan. It has deprived the country of all the normal foundations necessary for its development…” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms 'If only the system he [Heydar Aliyev] created had disappeared once he was gone. The Heydar Aliyev dynasty is a curse upon Azerbaijan. It has deprived the country of all the normal foundations necessary for its development.” These words were said in an article by the late journalist Elmar Huseynov. Huseynov, a brave critic of the ruling Aliyevs family, was assassinated 19 years...


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