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A defence lawyer in the trial of independent Azerbaijani journalists and activists linked to Toplum TV has said it would be "highly naive" to expect a fair verdict from the court. Fuad Agayev, representing prominent opposition figure Akif Gurbanov, made the remarks as defence speeches began at the Baku Grave Crimes Court on 29 June. The prosecution is seeking prison sentences of between 13 and 16 years for those detained in the case. A total of 10 defendants face charges incl

More than 9,000 teachers in Azerbaijan have had their employment contracts terminated after failing a state-mandated certification process, the country's education minister has announced. Emin Amrullayev, the Minister of Science and Education, said 9,334 teachers were dismissed after failing both attempts of the examinations held between 2022 and 2026. Speaking at a conference in Baku, Mr Amrullayev said 104,435 teachers had taken part in the scheme over the past four years,

The mother of a jailed Azerbaijani war veteran has demanded his urgent transfer to a specialist hospital, warning his life is at risk from severe epilepsy and brain injuries suffered in combat. Tarana Mansimova told local media outlet Abzas Media that her 29-year-old son, Mirabtalib Mansimov, is currently being held at Penal Facility No. 10 on drug charges. She said his health has deteriorated significantly, having suffered a traumatic brain injury during the Second Karabakh

Fazil Qasimov An imprisoned Azerbaijani economist has appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to help secure his release, claiming his nine-year sentence was based on fabricated evidence. Fazil Qasimov, who is currently held in Prison Number 2 in Baku, sent the letter ahead of Mrs von der Leyen’s reported visit to Azerbaijan on 1 July. Qasimov, a doctoral candidate at Istanbul University and an alumnus of a United Nations scholarship scheme, has been de

Vugar Gadirli An Azerbaijani court has sentenced an opposition activist and disabled war veteran to two years in prison on weapons charges that his supporters say are politically motivated. Vugar Gadirli, a member of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) from the Imishli district, was sentenced at the Imishli District Court on 30 June. Gadirli, a veteran of the Karabakh conflict who holds a second-class disability status, was detained on 12 December last year. The APFP sa

At least 25 Azerbaijani service members have died in non-combat circumstances so far this year, according to a regional military monitoring group. The figures, compiled by the Caspian Defence Studies Institute (CDSI) up to 22 June, were released as the South Caucasus nation marked its annual Armed Forces Day. The independent watchdog group said the deaths highlight a persistent issue with non-combat fatalities within the country's military and security forces. Local media rep

Zabil Qahramanov An Azerbaijani court has received the case of Zabil Qahramanov, a prominent defence lawyer who human rights groups recognise as a political prisoner. The Ganja City Court, under Judge Ulkar Babazade, will hear the trial of Qahramanov, who faces multiple charges including fraud and hooliganism, local news agency APA reported. Qahramanov was arrested on 23 October last year after being accused of injuring a person at a car wash, but state prosecutors later adde

Ramil Babayev Azerbaijani democracy activist Ramil Babayev has spent his 29th birthday in custody, more than two years after his arrest in a controversial crackdown on independent media. Babayev, an employee of the Baku-based Institute for Democratic Initiatives (IDI), was detained on 6 March 2024 when police raided the offices of online broadcaster Toplum TV. Despite the passage of more than two years, the trial against him and his co-defendants has still not concluded. Duri

A global press freedom watchdog has warned that a proposed law to establish a media super-regulator in Azerbaijan will tighten state control over the country's remaining independent digital spaces. The bill, which is expected to be debated in parliament on 30 June 2026, would replace the existing Media Development Agency and the Audiovisual Council with a single entity called the Media and Broadcasting Council. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the reform would centralise

Ali Karimli The main opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP) says prison authorities have significantly worsened the detention conditions of its jailed leader, Ali Karimli. In a statement, the AXCP said Mr Karimli was moved to a new cell and subjected to a harsher regime following a family visit. The party claims he has been deprived of a television and radio, while newspapers brought by his lawyers are being blocked. His daily outdoor exercise time of two hours has

Jailed political activists in Azerbaijan have urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to put human rights at the centre of her talks during a visit to the country on 1 July. The appeal was made in an open letter written from prison by a group of detainees, including the prominent anti-corruption activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. While welcoming growing cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan in energy and transport, the writers warned that a long

Zamin Salayev An imprisoned Azerbaijani opposition activist has gone on a hunger strike after being placed in solitary confinement, his family says. Zamin Salayev, a prominent member of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), was moved to a punitive isolation cell at Prison Number 11, according to his relatives. His family said they had been unable to contact him for 10 days before discovering his relocation on Monday. "My father has started a hunger strike ther

Samad Seyidov A senior Azerbaijani politician has dismissed a European parliamentary resolution demanding the immediate release of jailed journalists, calling the document a "piece of paper" with no value. Samad Seyidov, the chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament's foreign relations committee, accused the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) of bias and "double standards". The resolution, adopted by PACE on 24 June, strongly criticised the Azerbaijani govern

Azerbaijan's government has reacted angrily to a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Pace) condemning the "systematic silencing" of independent journalists and opposition figures. The Strasbourg-based assembly voted 68 to eight in favour of the resolution on Monday, which demands the immediate release of dozens of political prisoners in the South Caucasian nation. Samad Seyidov, the head of Azerbaijan's parliamentary foreign relations committee,

Tofiq Yaqublu The human rights group Amnesty International has written to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to demand the immediate release of jailed opposition politician Tofiq Yaqublu. In a letter published on 23 June, the organisation warned that Mr Yaqublu’s health is deteriorating rapidly inside Prison No 17, where he is currently being held. The group has also launched a public campaign urging supporters to write directly to the Azerbaijani presidency to protest again

Azerbaijan’s parliament is preparing to vote on amendments that would allow authorities to temporarily block websites without a court order, raising fears of increased self-censorship among independent media. Under the proposed changes to the country's information law, executive bodies will be empowered to restrict access to online platforms if they are deemed to host prohibited material. The bill was approved during a joint parliamentary committee meeting on 23 June and is s

Imprisoned Azerbaijani opposition leader Ali Karimli is being subjected to deliberate sleep deprivation and harsher jail conditions following a foreign media interview, his supporters say. The Azerbaijani Popular Front Party (AXCP) said Mr Karimli, aged 61, was moved to a more restrictive cell and stripped of basic privileges after speaking to the French broadcaster France 24. A defence committee representing the politician warned that authorities had "deliberately" placed a

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has requested formal explanations from the Azerbaijani government over the brief imprisonment of a man who criticised the country's public rights watchdog. Niyamaddin Aslanzade was handed a five-day administrative jail term in August 2021 for "minor hooliganism" after repeatedly calling the Ombudsman's office. According to reports by the US-funded broadcaster Radio Liberty, the Strasbourg court has now opened formal communications wit

Arif Hajili A prominent Azerbaijani opposition politician has been barred from leaving the country to attend international political conferences in Austria, his party has said. Arif Hajili, the assembly chairman and former leader of the opposition Musavat Party, was stopped by border officials at Baku's international airport on Tuesday, 23 June. He had been due to travel to Vienna for a regional security meeting, which was expected to be attended by both Azerbaijani governmen

Ilkin Baghirov A jailed Azerbaijani activist sentenced for allegedly plotting to set up an Islamic state has gone on a hunger strike to protest against his transfer to a high-security prison, according to his family. Ilkin Baghirov has refused food for three days following a decision to move him to the Umbaki Penitentiary Complex, a closed-regime facility near the capital, Baku. Journalist Arzu Abdulla reported the protest on 23 June, citing the activist's relatives. Baghirov