All Articles

Mahammad Hajiyev exposed mistreatment at a Baku orphanage and was sentenced to 10 years on charges he claims are fabricated. Read the full story on whistleblower protection, legal rights of minors, and the search for justice in Azerbaijan.

Murad Sultan, Chairman of the APFP Control-Audit Commission, has gone missing in Azerbaijan. The opposition party reports a lack of contact since Dec 16, amid ongoing arrests of political activists and leaders. Read more about the situation.

An Istanbul court dismissed Gultekin Hajibeyli's appeal against her detention in a deportation center. The Azerbaijani opposition figure claims the arrest lacks legal basis and is a political order. Read more on human rights and legal concerns.

ImprisoneHəbsdə olan fəal Tərlan Sayadov Umbakı Qapalı Həbsxanasında zorakılıq və cərimə təcridxanasına yerləşdirilmə iddia edir. Onun təmiz səccadə tələbi hörmətsizliklə qarşılanıb. Bu iddialar Azd activist Tarlan Sayadov alleges abuse and solitary confinement in Umbakı Closed Prison after requesting a clean prayer rug. His claims highlight critical concerns about prisoner treatment and religious freedom violations within Azerbaijan's penal system. Human rights groups urged

Azerbaijani opposition activist Vugar Gadirli (PFPA) was arrested on highly contested charges of illegal firearms possession. The PFPA claims police planted the weapon, asserting Gadirli is being persecuted for political reasons. Read the full report on human rights concerns in Baku.

Azerbaijan's new Amnesty Act, the largest since independence, covers 20,000 people including veterans and seniors. However, local activists warn it fails to address the political prisoner issue, as the act excludes those convicted of grave crimes—the charges often faced by nearly 400 political detainees. Will this major reform deliver true justice?

Azerbaijani opposition activist Elbeyi Kerimli (22) died in prison on Dec 12, with his death reported as an apparent suicide. The AXCP member was jailed on contested drug charges after a political protest. His family suspects foul play, leading to a state investigation into the circumstances of his controversial death.

Trial against independent Meydan TV journalists starts in Baku (Dec 12). 11 journalists face up to 12 years for financial crimes linked to foreign grants, a case CPJ labels an "unwarranted crackdown" on free press. Follow this crucial test of media freedom. Hearings set for Dec 22.

Vugar Gadirli, a member of the Imishli District Organization of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), was detained on the morning of December 12.

Azerbaijani lawyer Namizad Safarov was arrested and detained for 4 months on large-scale fraud charges (~$31k USD). While government sources cite failure to reinstate a client, opposition figures claim the charges are politically motivated due to his anti-corruption work and activism. Read the full report on the controversial detention.

Detained journalist Shamshad Aga speaks out from prison, strongly condemning the arrests of opposition leaders Ali Karimli & Mammad Ibrahim as Ilham Aliyev's act of repression. Aga insists fabricated charges cannot suppress the people’s enduring desire for democracy and justice in Azerbaijan. Read the full, powerful letter.

Human rights advocate Arzu Abdullayeva formally appeals to President Aliyev for the release of 12 arrested Meydan TV journalists. She argues the charges (smuggling, money laundering) are unduly harsh and linked to their free speech rights. Abdullayeva asks for a humanitarian act to boost public trust and Azerbaijan's image.

Journalist Shamsad Agha sends a powerful plea from the Baku Isolator, condemning the arrests of Ali Karimli & Mammad Ibrahim on 'fabricated' charges. He calls this a direct attack on democracy and stresses that repression will fail to kill the people's desire for justice and freedom. Read his full statement.

Azerbaijan's human rights crisis (Oct 2025 data) is escalating: 392 political figures, including 29 journalists, are jailed as the government cracks down on independent media and activists. Read the full report.

Baku court rejects house arrest for PFPA's Ali Karimli on power seizure charges. The defense will appeal the politically motivated decision. Details on police action against party activists, including Emil Salim's detention, and the broader context of the November 29 arrests.

Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party introduces drastic new laws tightening protest restrictions, including mandatory 5-day notice & prison time for violators. Civil society condemns the move as criminalizing free expression and eroding fundamental rights.

A new report, "Trading Away Principles," details how the EU's relationship with Azerbaijan is prioritizing energy security and geopolitics over human rights. With over 400 political prisoners and media suppression, the EU's silence is seen as acceptance. The report demands that future deals mandate the release of all political prisoners and real democratic reform.

The RSF 2025 Annual Report reveals an alarming crisis: 67 journalists were killed and 503 jailed worldwide (Dec 2024-2025). The report highlights Gaza, Mexico, and countries like China and Russia as dangerous zones. RSF calls for urgent international action against press violence and impunity. Read the devastating global overview.

HR advocate Rufat Safarov faces politically motivated charges in Baku. His defense showed phone records proving the accuser contacted arresting officers beforehand. This crucial evidence suggests police involvement and a targeted effort to silence the critic. Get the full trial details.

Exiled editor Ganimat Zahid's trial begins in Baku on political charges linked to his journalism. HRW condemns Azerbaijan's repression against critics and demands all politically driven charges be dropped.