All Articles

One year after her arrest in the Meydan TV case, journalist Aysel Umudova writes a powerful letter from a Baku detention center, detailing her illegal detention, panic attack, and psychological abuse. Discover her defiant message of hope and unwavering belief in her work despite facing 7 charges. Read her full story.

Read Akif Gurbanov’s letter from detention on how media control harms democracy. He stresses the urgent need for critical thinking, urging families and educators to teach children to question, think independently, and be proactive. True change starts with individual habits.

Nurlan Libre, arrested in the Meydan TV case, formally alleges he was tortured by Penitentiary Service staff using the 'Palestinian hanging' method on Dec 1, 2025. Libre states the incident was recorded by court cameras. Read the urgent application detailing human rights violations and demanding a transparent investigation.

Detained Azerbaijani politician Ruslan Izzetli requires urgent gallbladder surgery. His wife warns that his critical health—including high blood pressure and a severe gallbladder condition—risks deadly sepsis if he remains in Baku Investigative Isolator No. 1. Concerns rise over the treatment of political prisoners.

Alarming update on the Toplum TV trial in Azerbaijan. Co-founder Alasgar Mammadli required medical help in court due to health issues, highlighting the dire situation for the 10 people charged. Defendants, initially accused of smuggling, strongly deny all charges, claiming their arrests are political. Read the defense's arguments and next steps.

Discover the conflict at the Azerbaijan-Georgia Media Forum hosted by MEDİA. While aiming for cooperation, the event was dominated by state-affiliated groups. Discussions criticized international media as "hybrid attacks" and promoted rules suggesting increased state censorship, contrasting sharply with ongoing crackdowns on independent press freedom in both countries.

Urgent call: Azerbaijani investigative journalist Hafiz Babali's health is failing in prison due to severe lack of medical care for a serious leg infection. Jailed in the AbzasMedia case, he faces blocked court appeals and restricted visits. Demand medical treatment and respect for legal rights now.

Appeals court in Baku upholds the arrest of Mammad Ibrahim, a leading member of the opposition APFP, on Dec 8. The party condemns the decision, calling the charges politically motivated and demanding the immediate release of Ibrahim, Chairman Ali Karimli, and all political detainees.

Gaza's ceasefire faces the harsh reality of winter. 1.9 million displaced Palestinians, including families who lost everything, urgently need shelter and warmth. Amidst 92% home destruction and critical aid bottlenecks, read the human stories of the daily struggle for survival, medicine, and dignity.

US Congress is drafting the "Azerbaijan Democracy Act of 2025" to sanction 35 top Azerbaijani officials with asset freezes and visa bans over political repression and corruption. The move challenges the White House's silence following crackdowns like the arrest of Ali Karimli.

Discover the "Silent Crisis" where Chechens abroad are forced into silence by Kadyrov's group punishment system, endangering their families. This repression conceals the true human rights situation, allowing Russian propaganda to dominate and leading to dangerous deportations of asylum seekers.

Amnesty International calls for an international inquiry into the alleged use of the toxic chemical bromobenzyl cyanide against Georgian protestors in late 2024. Read about the demands for accountability, the ban on police equipment export to Georgia, and the reported retaliation against witnesses and doctors.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with a high-level UAE delegation, including Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, IHC, and IRH leaders, to boost strategic economic ties. The talks focused heavily on green energy, IT, investment, and building a foundation for major regional deals.

Aliyev-Torobaev meeting analysis: Is the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan based on real investment or political symbolism? We scrutinize the $100M joint fund, Issyk-Kul hotel project, and symbolic gestures to uncover if they deliver measurable economic benefits or are simply for show. Read the full story.

One year into the Meydan TV case, 12 Azerbaijani journalists and activists face severe charges, including money laundering and tax fraud, as the government escalates its crackdown on independent media. They deny the political charges. Press freedom is at risk. Next hearing: Dec 12.

Tazakhan Miralimli, a top official of the AXCP opposition party, has been released after his arrest. The move comes amid the detention of AXCP leader Ali Karimli on serious criminal charges. Read the full story on Miralimli’s release, the persistent political tension, and international concerns about the rule of law in Azerbaijan.

Russia's Supreme Court upheld a 14-year sentence for 20-year-old Nikita Zhuravel (treason & Quran burning). The case is controversial due to reports he was assaulted in custody by Ramzan Kadyrov's son, Adam, who received state honors. Human rights groups doubt the forced conviction.

Escalation in Armenia: Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan is arrested on controversial 2018 drug-planting charges amid a severe political-religious clash. Prime Minister Pashinyan claims Catholicos Karekin II is a foreign agent. Read the full story on the deepening conflict between the government and the Church.

Abkhazian-Turkish academic Elçin Adzinba faced threats & a severe cyberattack after speaking at the UN Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva. She highlighted the humanitarian crisis caused by the non-acceptance of Abkhazian documents, denying thousands basic rights, education, and healthcare. Read the full report on the harassment, data erasure, and her call for practical UN solutions.

EBU confirms Israel's spot in Eurovision 2026, leading to immediate boycotts by the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia over the Gaza conflict. The EBU introduced controversial new rules to minimize political influence, including limiting public voting and boosting jury scores. Discover how geopolitical tension affects the contest's future and broadcasting stability.