Latest News & Updates

The Council of Europe has warned that a sharp rise in cross-border repression by authoritarian governments is posing a direct threat to national sovereignty and international law.

The son of an Azerbaijani member of parliament has been awarded state contracts worth 66.5 million manats (£31m) to build residential housing in the city of Shusha.

Newly released audio recordings of Azerbaijani tech expert Ilgar Aliyev, who died in prison this month, reveal he accused police of torturing him and planting drugs to secure a conviction.

An imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist serving an eight-year sentence has been denied critical medical care for four months despite suffering from breathing difficulties, her lawyer says.

An Azerbaijani court has sentenced devout activist Elshan Guliyev to four years in prison after downgrading drug charges that he maintains were fabricated.

A trial has opened in the French city of Rennes of nine men accused of plotting to murder Mahammad Mirzali, a prominent Azerbaijani blogger and critic of his country's government.

Turkish police have evicted opposition leader Özgür Özel and his supporters from the headquarters of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Ankara, following a court ruling that reinstated his predecessor.

Həbsdə olan azərbaycanlı dini fəal təkadamlıq kameraya salınıb və ailəsinin dediyinə görə, ciddi rejimli həbsxanaya köçürülməlidir. Elvin Nəzərov mayın 21-dən 12 saylı Cəzaçəkmə Müəssisəsində cəzaçəkmə kamerasında saxlanılır və hakimiyyətin onu bağlı Umbakı Cəzaçəkmə Kompleksinə köçürməyə hazırlaşdığı bildirilir. Onun həyat yoldaşı Şəbnəm Nəzərova bildirib ki, həbsxana rəsmiləri müntəzəm olaraq hədəfə alınan məhbusları daha sərt cəzaçəkmə müəssisələrinə köçürməyə haqq qazandı

Azerbaijan and Georgia have recorded some of the highest incarceration rates in Europe, according to a major report by the Council of Europe (CoE).

Georgia's state media regulator has fined the opposition-leaning television channel Formula for breaching impartiality standards, in the first such sanction under controversial new broadcasting laws.

The Baku Grave Crimes Court has sentenced Anar Asadli, the former chairman of the dissolved "Yuxəliş" (Ascent) Party, to four years and six months in prison on charges of large-scale fraud.

The head of Iran's official state news agency has been summoned to court after the outlet published photographs of a Tehran woman without a mandatory headscarf.

A panel of Azerbaijani judges abruptly halted a trial in Baku on Friday after a detained journalist began testifying about the offshore wealth of President Ilham Aliyev's family.

Nazim Baydemirli's location for serving his sentence has been altered. His spouse, Farida Baydemirli, informed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that he was moved to Penitentiary Institution No. 6 on May 19.

In Belarus, 500 inmates have been set free from incarceration. This has diminished the resistance. The opposition consists of individuals who oppose the government of Belarus. They are facing a crisis.

Activist and English instructor Dayanat Chalabiyev appeared in front of a judge on May 21 at the Baku Serious Crimes Court. He was taken into custody for condemning government policies, including those of the president in the media.

On May 21, the Supreme Court, headed by Judge Ilgar Gilicov, examined Bahruz Samedov's appeal. Bahruz Samedov is a researcher who is incarcerated.

Economist Fazil Gasimov and reporter Hafiz Babali were incarcerated. They ceased consuming food as a form of protest. Those near them stated this on May 20. Fazil Gasimov was placed in a prison cell on May 18. He is now returned to his cell. The authorities indicated they will consider Fazil Gasimov's request. He claims that certain documents in his case are not genuine.

"While a straightforward amnesty for unauthorized buildings might address some social issues temporarily, it could also encourage more illegal constructions later on." As reported by AZERTAC, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov expressed these opinions on May 20 during an event focused on "Replacing informal settlements and slums for housing globally."

The Baku Court of Appeal has upheld a six-year prison sentence against journalist and public activist Ahmad Mammadli, rejecting an appeal to overturn his conviction. Judge Ali Mammadov presided over the panel that issued the decision on May 14.