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Reports expose alleged rights violations and tightened security at Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center (BİT). Following contraband discovery, intense searches and structural changes are reportedly used to pressure political prisoners and infringe on their right to a lawyer.

Imprisoned religious activist Nigar Baghirova is on a hunger strike protesting her detention extension. She claims state weakness & demands "Acquittal or Martyrdom." Read her defiant interview: "Living with fear is scarier than prison."

Journalist Nurlan Libre, arrested in the "Meydan TV case," writes from prison: "I will continue writing." Read his powerful letter on detention, the struggle for a free press, and his unwavering commitment to conveying the truth, despite facing 8-12 years. He regrets nothing.

Azerbaijan's Supreme Court upheld the 10-year prison sentence for activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev on Nov 18. Hajiyev, a fierce government critic, was convicted on 8 charges, including illegal entrepreneurship and smuggling, which he rejects as politically motivated. The defense's anonymous evidence argument was dismissed.

Exiled Azerbaijani journalist Ganimat Zahid is summoned by the Prosecutor General's Office on charges of "Public calls against the state" (Art. 281.2). A four-month absentee arrest warrant has been issued, escalating concerns over press freedom and political pressure on critics.

Jailed academic Bahruz Samadov's complaint against his confinement in a punishment cell was dismissed by an Azerbaijani court on Nov 17. The peace activist, serving a 15-year sentence on state treason charges he denies, remains in isolation. His arrest is widely viewed as politically motivated.

Talysh activist and Russian citizen Kamal Isayev was detained in Turkey and moved to Azerbaijan by the DTX. Read the report on his disappearance, the citizenship dispute, and the crackdown on Talysh rights advocates.

Jailed Azerbaijani investigative journalist Sevinj Vagifgizi wins the prestigious Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Prize for Courage. The Editor-in-Chief of Abzas Media was honored for her resilience against injustice after receiving a 9-year sentence for anti-corruption reporting.

Azerbaijan's prosecution demands life sentences for former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders, including Arayik Harutyunyan, on charges of genocide, terrorism, and war crimes. The trial for 15 officials resumes November 27 in Baku.

Azerbaijan strongly protests Russia after an Iskander-type missile strike severely damaged its Embassy in Kyiv on Nov 14. Baku demanded a full investigation and explanation, highlighting that this is one of several repeated attacks against Azerbaijani diplomatic missions and SOCAR assets in Ukraine since 2022.

Azerbaijan issues absentee arrest warrants for US-based journalist Sevinj Osmanqizi and blogger Abid Gafarov, citing charges of inciting mass riots and anti-state calls. This escalates Baku's crackdown on diaspora critics.

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has summoned four prominent public figures residing abroad—Arastun Orujlu, Altay Goyushov, Beydulla Manafov, and Vagif Allahverdiyev—on serious charges of public calls against the state (Art. 281.2). Arrest warrants issued.

Political prisoner Samir Ashurov is facing a life-threatening health crisis in Azerbaijan's Prison No. 2, as a doctor allegedly refused treatment documentation, stating Ashurov needed to be "almost dead" first. Read the full account of his medical neglect and the appeal for immediate care.

Attorney Zabil Gahramanov, detained in Ganja, faces restricted rights to family visits. Lawyers appeal the court's dismissal, calling the move "unjust and biased." They argue investigators abuse power, demanding the end of arbitrary restrictions. Get the full details on the controversial case.

Azerbaijan's Supreme Court upholds the 2-year sentence for Aziz Orucov, head of Kanal 13, just before his release. The conviction, linked to "unauthorized construction," is seen as politically motivated retaliation against critical journalism amid a wider crackdown on media freedom.

Georgia's ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia faces up to 13 years in prison on criminal charges. The prosecution is seeking his pre-trial detention, citing the violent 2019 protest crackdown and the controversial Chorchan police post, which allegedly caused territorial loss. Gakharia remains abroad.

Pashinyan confirms 'Trump Route' to Nakhchivan starts 2026. Get the latest on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation, enclave disputes, and Karabakh peace documents release.

Fuad Naghiyev, an activist of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), has been placed under administrative arrest for 30 days.

Kazakhstan's Parliament unanimously approved a controversial "LGBT propaganda" ban, drawing international criticism. The law mirrors Russia's legislation and is justified by protecting youth from "non-traditional orientation" content. Human rights groups warn of discrimination and penalties.

Four religious women detained in the Baku Investigation Isolator—Sharqiyya Huseynova, Shahla Farajova, Nigar Baghirova, and Ayten Ibrahimova—have started a hunger strike. Their detention was extended despite claims of no investigation, fueling human rights concerns and questions about due process.