Insights & peace? 🧐 We checked out what the @coe.int stands for: Pursuit of peace based upon justice and international co-operation🕊️ Individual freedom, political liberty, the rule of law⚖️ 🇪🇺🇦🇿➡️ Azerbaijan’s Defiance: Decade of Contempt for the Council of Europe free-anar.site/azerbaijans-...

Анар Мамедли в суде назвал свое дело "политическим спектаклем" www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/415...

The UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders has submitted an amicus brief in Anar Mammadli’s case 🌍 Azerbaijan has a duty under the Aarhus Convention: defenders must not face reprisals ⚖️ Calls for Anar’s release and for charges to be dropped 🕊️ 🔗 unece.org/ACSR_C_2024_...

“This trial is a political show, not a legal process” ⚖️ Anar Mammadli at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes He recalled the @echr.coe.int ruling that already declared his earlier conviction unlawful🏛️ The new charges are absurd & aim only to silence civil society 🚫

Could this inspire President Aliyev? ⤵️

Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku today 🏎️🇦🇿 Behind the glamour: Over 300 political prisoners ⚠️ Silenced media ⚠️ Jailed human rights defenders ⚠️ Formula One is used to mask repression. 🔗 free-anar.site

This week's quarterly meeting of the @CoE's Committee of Ministers to review execution of judgments of the @ECHR_CEDH i.a. deals with long-standing non-implementation by #Azerbaijan of freedom of NGO organising, and reluctance by #Switzerland to truthfully implement... 1/2

Sept 9: Baku Court of Appeal upheld the “Abzas Media case” verdict. Our journalists raised signs: “Aliyev, declare your income!” “Corruption is a crime, journalism is not!” “Free media cannot be silenced!” Prison staff answered with violence. shorturl.at/Z3sfq #FreeAbzasMedia

As it was to be expected… Azerbaijan is featured extensively in this new @coe.int publication. The country is indeed a role model in adopting legislation to criminalise civil society — sadly 🇦🇿⚖️🚨 More ⤵️

We congratulate journalist Nargiz Absalamova on winning the prestigious Free Media Award from @frittord.bsky.social and @zeit.de 🫶 Absalamova and her colleagues at @abzasmedia.bsky.social deserve this award for their unwavering dedication #FreeThemAll 🔗 free-anar.site/political-pr...

Another week of repression in Azerbaijan: ⚖️ Baku Appeal Court upheld the 15-year sentence of Bahruz Samadov after a closed hearing. He is now on hunger strike. ✍️ New charges against human rights defender Bashir Suleymanli in the ongoing NGO crackdown. Voices for justice are silenced again.

Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin at the TEHA Forum in Cernobbio says its gas storage is secure—but still plays into Azerbaijan’s hand 🇮🇹⛽️a🇦🇿 By leaning on Baku for supply, Rome helps polish Azerbaijan’s image abroad, whilst repression and human rights abuses continue at home.

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan tried to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. India blocked it. Given Baku’s record of jailing journalists, crushing dissent & silencing defenders, it would have fit right in. But as a @coe.int member, that says everything about how it undermines the values it signed up to❗

Director of @abzasmedia.bsky.social, human rights defender and journalist Ulvi Hasanli is shortlisted for the @pace.coe.int 2025 Václav Havel Prize, alongside journalists Mzia Amaghlobeli and Maksym Butkevych 🫶 🔗 More about Ulvi: free-anar.site/political-pr... #FreeAbzas #ClimateOfRepression

🚨 Even the US State Department’s 2024 report—under Trump’s administration—details a grim reality in #Azerbaijan: Torture ⚠️ Media gag 📵 Transnational repression 🌍✈️ Union bans🛑✊ Fabricated charges📝 Politically motivated detentions🎯 Cases of political prisoners⤵️ 🔗 www.state.gov/reports/2024...

“… to every person…” ⚖️🫶⚖️

Laws inspired by #Azerbaijan’s crackdown on civil society are spreading 🇦🇿 After a restrictive media law, #Ethiopia has now passed a law targeting NGOs 🇪🇹 @coe.int’s failure to act on Azerbaijan’s repression is having global consequences for civic space 🇪🇺🌍🇪🇺

🎂 Anar Mammadli turns 47 today — behind bars, on trumped-up charges, for his human rights work. He should be with his son and family, not on trial. He built democratic institutions. Now he needs ours. ✊ Free him — and all political prisoners in #Azerbaijan #FreeAnar

Lauerátovi Ceny Václava Havla hrozí väzenie. Azerbajdžanský režim ho chce poslať za mreže na 12 rokov www.aktuality.sk/clanok/KvmMV...

Strengthening and supporting human rights defenders: a global issue, and an urgent need in #Azerbaijan ⤵️

When #Azerbaijan began its crackdown on #humanrights defenders in 2014, it targeted #lawyers representing HRDs with professional disbarment. The C'ttee of Ministers reviewed implementation of judgments in the Namazov group at its June meeting ⬇️

EU says imprisonment of Azerbaijan’s Abzas Media team a ‘worrying development’ @abzasmedia.bsky.social @ocmedia.bsky.social oc-media.org/eu-says-impr...

The Baku Grave Crimes Court has sentenced Azerbaijani researcher, peace activist, and OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov to 15 years in prison on charges of treason. ▶️ Read more: oc-media.org/azerbaijani-...

Scholar #BahruzSamadov attempts suicide in prison, OC Media. Our hearts go out to Bahruz and his family. We demand that #Azerbaijan authorities promptly and transparently investigate this and provide medical aid as appropriate. Detention conditions, treatment by staff, all must be investigated.

Azerbaijan hands down lengthy sentences to Abzas Media team 📰❌ @abzasmedia.bsky.social 🔗 oc-media.org/azerbaijan-h... @ocmedia.bsky.social #FreeAbzasJournalists #ClimateOfRepression

En Azerbaïdjan, le pouvoir assène de lourdes peines de prison à sept journalistes www.lemonde.fr/internationa...

📆 Next Hearing in Anar Mammadli's trial to take place today at 14:45. We strongly encourage international community attendance🙏 The court's conduct at the 1st hearing reflects the broader pattern of repression and judicial abuse in #Azerbaijan #FreeAnar #TrialsOfDissent ⤵️

UN experts express concern over continued detention of #Azerbaijan rights defender, Anar Mammadli, in @juristnews.bsky.social by Matteo Piccioli www.jurist.org/news/2025/05... #FreeAnar #ClimateOfRepression

This ⬇️

🚨“Arbitrary, unjustified, and politically motivated.” UN human rights experts sound alarm on the year-long detention of human rights defender Anar Mammadli in #Azerbaijan. The charges must be dropped. He must be released—now. 📢 Read the full UN statement: www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel... #FreeAnar

The hearing is postponed to 2 June📅 The Court accepted to postpone, the defence had not been provided with the indictment. 🚫It rejected to replace pre-trial detention with house arrest — despite Anar Mammadli's deterioriating health in detention. ❌It also denied to dismiss the case. #FreeAnar

Today, Azerbaijan🚨 Grave Crimes Court opens sham trial of Anar Mammadli—leading voice for free elections & civil rights. This is retribution for 🗳️Exposing election fraud ⚖️Challenging authoritarian power 🌍Defending civic space ahead of #COP29 His “crime”? Defending #HumanRights & #ClimateJustice

European rights advocates say Council of Europe has abandoned its core mission: @coe.int abandoned those who promote its very foundations. 🔗 @stockholmcf.bsky.social: stockholmcf.org/european-rig... @eleonoramongelli.bsky.social @florianirminger.ch #ClimateOfRepression

🧑‍⚖️300+ political prisoners 🚫 Silenced NGOs and media 📵 Ignored court rulings Yet, @coe.int continues to turn a blind eye to #Azerbaijan’s repression. @eleonoramongelli.bsky.social & @florianirminger.ch argue its silence isn't neutrality. It's abandonment. www.turkishminute.com/2025/05/23/e...

“If human rights defenders can’t count on the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, why should victims bother bringing their cases?” 🤷🏻‍♀️ Rights advocates warn: without real reform, the Council risks becoming just a symbol—disconnected from the people. 📢🇪🇺 🔗 www.turkishminute.com/2025/05/23/e...

Unsurprisingly, President Aliyev feels very comfortable in PM Orbán's hands, both speaking economic interests whilst closing civic space and weaponising legislation against civil society and #HumanRightsDefenders. See OC Media's piece: oc-media.org/aliyev-and-o...

We stand in solidarity with protesters in Georgia 🇬🇪 It’s clearer and clearer that Georgian authorities are copy-pasting legislation and practice from Aliyev’s Azerbaijan.

🧐 More about @ebrd.bsky.social's (lack of) committment to uphold its democratic mandate, by @ninales.bsky.social www.intellinews.com/comment-amid...

📢 Powerful piece in @washingtonpost.com, about @ulviyyaali.bsky.social: “She covered human rights for VOA in Azerbaijan. Now she’s in jail.” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

✍️ We heartfully support this Appeal by @curecampaign.bsky.social: “Peace and Security Begin with Human Rights and Democracy” ⤵️

🔇In Azerbaijan, independent NGOs are banned. In-person consultations give the floor only to pro-government groups—creating the illusion of civil society participation, while real voices are silenced. By accepting this, the @ebrd.bsky.social undermines its commitments to democracy and pluralism.

Ulviyya is a young journalist and human rights defender in Azerbaijan. She was arrested on May 7 after a raid on her home. She’s now in detention and her health is getting worse. 💔🇦🇿 Let’s use BlueSky to send her some strength. ⬇️💪🏼 @ulviyyaali.bsky.social Press freedom is a right! 📢 #FreeUlviyya

Intigam Aliyev's situation in #Azerbaijan symbolises @coe.int's silence. He's an iconic lawyer who has defended over 140 people in the European Court of Human Rights — only to be disbarred and imprisoned. We need a convention and we urgently need political courage from Strasbourg.

A VOA contributor has been detained in Azerbaijan, marking the latest journalist arrest in the Central Asian country. https://open.substack.com/pub/pressfreedomreport/p/voice-of-america-contributor-detained?r=1g77q&utm_medium=ios

Police in Azerbaijan detain another journalist as pressure on independent media increases reut.rs/43sGGBt

⚖️ Tofig Yagublu’s appeal rejected today. 🚫 Still in jail — on trumped-up charges. 📅 Day 36 of hunger strike ❌ No legal ground. ❌ No moral justification. 🕊️ Release him. Now. 🔗 free-anar.site/political-pr...

"The EU looks the other way as Azerbaijan jails journalists and crushes dissent. Officials in Tbilisi are surely taking note." Our new editorial below.

🚨Today: day 30 of Tofig Yagublu’s hunger strike in prison. Pro-democracy opposition figure in #Azerbaijan, Tofig Yagublu has now been jailed for the 5th time in his life—again, clearly fabricated charges. We demand his release—at least on humanitarian grounds🕊️ 🔗 free-anar.site/political-pr...

🚫Journalists forced into exile are still exposing repression—despite censorship, threats, and surveillance. Exile hasn't silenced journalists and media workers from #Azerbaijan, but sharpened their resolve, by @arzugeybulla.bsky.social in @globalvoices.org advox.globalvoices.org/2025/04/30/r...

🧵1/ Anar Mammadli, Chair of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), was arrested one year ago, amid growing repression against critical voices and independent election observers in #Azerbaijan. #FreeAnar