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Neo-Nazi leader Michail Chkhikvishvili pleaded guilty to planning a mass casualty terror attack targeting Jewish children in NYC with poisoned sweets. The leader of the Maniac Murder Cult (MMC) also distributed bomb instructions and inspired global white supremacist violence. He faces up to 40 years.

Azer Gasimli trial update: Accuser's mother admits she didn't witness threats, citing hearsay. Defense argues lack of direct evidence in the extortion case. Read the full report on the latest court session and key testimony details.

Pardoned former official Saleh Rustamov, a Russian citizen, was barred from leaving Azerbaijan after visiting for a funeral. Border services gave no reason. His lawyer challenges the travel ban, raising concerns about the freedom of movement for former political prisoners.

Updates on the Russia-Ukraine War: Explore the controversial 28-point peace plan reportedly backed by the Trump administration, Ukraine's first use of long-range ATACMS against a military target inside Russia, and the EU's three options for financing Kyiv's €71.7B aid needs, including using €176B in frozen Russian assets.

Turkey will host COP31 in Antalya in 2026, while Australia will lead the negotiations. Discover the details of the compromise reached between the two nations at the COP30 summit in Belém.

Ukraine faces a major political crisis amidst the war due to a $100M Energoatom corruption scandal. Ministers resign, former Deputy PM Chernyshov is jailed, and pressure mounts on Zelensky's aide, Yermak. Read how the embezzlement and parliamentary chaos threaten government stability.

Sevinj Vagifgizi advocates for boundless journalism, stating that truth is universal and must not be sacrificed to state interests. She demands a world where no journalist faces threats, imprisonment, or death for revealing facts. Telling the truth must become a normal standard.

Discover how Azerbaijan's full membership in the Central Asian '6' bloc is reshaping Eurasia. Learn about the strategic shift, the impact on the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian Route), and the push for greater regional independence and geo-economic cohesion.

Baku Appeals Court affirmed the arrests of PFPA activists Farid Guliyev and Valishan Hasanov. The PFPA claims the arrests are political, tied to their support for Ali Karimli, and criticizes the court for refusing to review surveillance footage during the formal appeal process.

Investigative journalist Hafiz Babalı, sentenced to 9 years in the "Abzas Media case," defies his unjust imprisonment. Read his powerful public address from prison: "The stones you throw will return like a boomerang." A fierce fight for media freedom and justice.

Baku Court hears arguments for activists Anar Mammadli & Anar Abdulla, challenging charges as politically motivated. The defense cites the government's failure to annul an illegal ECtHR-ruled conviction and using the NGO's unregistered status against him. This raises Rule of Law concerns.

Former Azerbaijani political prisoner and Russian citizen, Saleh Rustamov, was unexpectedly barred from leaving Azerbaijan on Nov 18 at Baku Airport due to an unexplained travel ban. The incident raises questions about the rights of pardoned political figures and freedom of movement.

GRU agent Yaroslav Mikhailov, suspected of coordinating the 2024 cargo bomb attacks in Europe (DHL, DPD), is the subject of an intense extradition struggle in Azerbaijan. Russia's FSB, SVR, and GRU are pressuring Baku for his return, while Western allies seek his custody for terrorism charges.

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."

Georgia will shut down its Anti-Corruption Bureau by 2026. The EU quickly criticized this move, saying it harms Georgia's chances of joining the Union. The government claims it is saving resources, but many worry it weakens democracy and reduces watchfulness against corruption.

Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister, has been sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity in Bangladesh. The ruling, connected to the 2024 student protests, impacts the political situation and the interim government of Muhammad Yunus.

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.

Georgian Dream stops citizens abroad from voting in national and local elections, citing 'external pressure' after the diaspora largely voted opposition in 2024. The new rule requires the nearly 95,000 registered voters to return to Georgia to cast their ballot. Read the full policy change details.