Reports

New Restrictions on NGOs in Azerbaijan Deepen Civil Society Crisis

Azerbaijan’s parliament approved legislative amendments introducing new fines for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that violate service and operational requirements. The changes, passed in the third reading, modify the Code of Administrative Offenses to expand legal liability from grant agreements to also include service contracts. Tightening Control Over NGO Operations Previously, only unregistered grants were subject to […]

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Amnesty International: In Azerbaijan, Journalism Has Been Sentenced to a Cell

As Azerbaijan marks the 150th anniversary of its national press, Amnesty International UK has released a powerful new report titled “Azerbaijan: From Newsroom to Cell”. The timing of the publication is no coincidence – it serves as a stark reminder that while the state celebrates media history, dozens of journalists are behind bars simply for

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Azerbaijan Marks 150 Years of Press – While Women Journalists Remain Behind Bars

As Azerbaijan prepares to mark the 150th anniversary of its national press, a disturbing truth overshadows the celebration: dozens of women journalists and oppositional women are currently imprisoned, punished for doing what journalism is meant to do—telling the truth. To shed light on this grim contradiction, the Social Union of Legal Education of Sumgait Youth

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Belgian Parliament Adopts Resolution Condemning Azerbaijan’s Actions in Nagorno-Karabakh

On July 17, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives passed a resolution in Brussels calling for sanctions against the Azerbaijani government and demanding the release of ethnic Armenian detainees currently held in Baku. The resolution strongly criticizes Azerbaijan’s actions in Nagorno-Karabakh, stating that they violate the fundamental norms and principles of international law. It also condemns

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Assassination Attempts Against Mahammad Mirzali in France: French Justice Acknowledges the Hand of Baku

In a landmark decision, a French court has sentenced one of the accused to ten years in prison for participating in an attempted assassination of exiled Azerbaijani blogger Mahammad Mirzali. The ruling points directly to the involvement of Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime, marking a significant turning point in France’s response to transnational repression. Reporters Without Borders

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196 Million Manats and a Rotten Refrigerator: Abzas Journalists Report from Prison

By Sevinc Vaqifqizi, Nargiz Absalamova, Elnare Gasimova The freezer, retrieved from the storage area by a female inmate worker, creaks as she crams the inmates’ meat into the ice-encrusted compartment of a worn-out “Chinar” refrigerator. She then awkwardly grabs the detached door leaning against the wall and forces it shut. She steps back, anxiously watching

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Azerbaijan Escalates Media Repression with Draconian Law Amendments

RSF warns of “total information isolation” as Aliyev regime tightens grip on press freedom On July 14, 2025, Azerbaijan’s parliament passed alarming amendments to the country’s already repressive media law, raising serious concerns about the complete eradication of independent journalism. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned these changes as a new escalation in the Aliyev

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Exiled Azerbaijani Activist Manaf Jalilzade Meets Swiss MP Fabian Molina to Discuss Political Repression and Transnational Crimes

Bern, Switzerland — Azerbaijani political activist and exile Manaf Jalilzade has met with Fabian Molina, a member of Switzerland’s National Council (Nationalrat), to discuss the worsening human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the transnational repression orchestrated by the Aliyev regime. The meeting took place amid growing concern over the Azerbaijani government’s extraterritorial targeting of dissidents,

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Investigation: Water Supply in Nardaran Exposes Corruption Linked to Sea Breeze Project

Despite official claims of transparency, the Nardaran district’s drinking water shortage reveals deep-seated corruption and influence. “In Nardaran, we only get drinkable water at the end of October until March. During spring and summer, we rely on well water,” a local resident told us under condition of anonymity. Sea Breeze Project’s Public Procurement Questioned The

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Azerbaijan Ranks 144th in Global Expression Report 2025

Azerbaijan has been ranked 144th out of 161 countries in the 2025 Global Expression Report, placing the country in the “In Crisis” category for freedom of expression. The annual index, developed by international experts, evaluates freedom of expression in countries worldwide using 25 indicators. These metrics include freedom of the press, digital rights, civic space,

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