Latest News & Updates

A committee of the Council of Europe has warned of a total collapse of media freedom in Azerbaijan, accusing authorities of systematically dismantling democratic pluralism.

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.

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).

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.

"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.

Two high-profile political prisoners in Azerbaijan, economist Fazil Qasimov and investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, have launched a joint hunger strike from Penal Facility No. 2. The protest was timed to coincide with the opening of the United Nations’ 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in the Azerbaijani capital, according to statements released by their families.

Today, 17 May, #Baku hosts the opening of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (#WUF13 / @WUF_UNHabitat ), the United Nations' flagship global conference on urbanization. The forum is expected to bring together around 40,000 participants from 182 countries and to be covered by some 1,000 accredited journalists. Its theme reads like a promise: "Housing the world: safe and resilient cities and communities." On the agenda are the global housing crisis, inclusivity, a reliab

That’s what Elnara Eldar, the sister of Aghaali Yahyayev, wrote about her brother’s grim situation behind bars. Aghaali is a board member of the Muslim Unity Movement, and he’s locked up right now in prison No. 8—a place with some pretty harsh rules.

Ali Karimli, the imprisoned chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), was denied permission to attend the funeral of his father, Amirhuseyn Karimov, who passed away on May 9. While the elder Karimov was buried in the village of Azadkend in the Saatli region, his son remained in custody. Notably, in the past, some imprisoned opposition politicians and journalists were temporarily released to attend the funerals of their relatives.

The court in the Nasimi District made a decision on an important case. Makhmud Faradzhiev, the son of a person who was a victim of Stalin-era purges had filed a lawsuit. He wanted the Azerbaijani government to pay him 1 million AZN, which's about $588,000 USD for the harm he suffered.

In a meeting of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights international observers and activists discussed an increase in repression with around 400 political prisoners since late 2023.

The President of Voice of America Michael Abramowitz is asking for the release of Ulviyya Ali, a journalist from Azerbaijan. It has been one year since Ulviyya Ali was taken into custody by the authorities in Azerbaijan.

The trial of Rufat Safarov, a known human rights defender from Azerbaijan ended at the Baku Grave Crimes Court on May 4. Rufat Safarov has been in jail for a year and a half. He is the director of the "Line of Defense" organization. Rufat Safarov faces charges that he and others say are not fair.