Freedom for Zabil Gahramanov ⚖️ We call for the immediate release of defence lawyer Zabil Gahramanov and for all charges against him to be dropped unconditionally. 🔗 free-anar.site/retaliatory-...

Azerbaijan intensifies crackdown on lawyers ⚖️ Defence lawyer Zabil Gahramanov was suspended, arrested, now charged on fabricated grounds after defending victims of torture. 🧐 Our case analysis shows how justice itself is becoming a punishable offence free-anar.site/retaliatory-...

Today EU Human Rights Representative @kajsaollongren.bsky.social presents her priorities before @droi.europarl.europa.eu & @afet.europarl.europa.eu ⚖️ She must address Azerbaijan’s human rights crisis: 1️⃣ Support exiled civil society & media 2️⃣ Build a common EU response #StayTuned for our report 🇦🇿🇪🇺

Azerbaijan handed over UN Climate Conference presidency to Brazil 🌍 #COP30 Since #COP29 in Baku: 🚨 Climate of Justice founders jailed ⚖️ Nazim Baydamirli sentenced to 8 years in prison 📚 Repression of media, civil society, scholars deepened Yet the EU carries on with business as usual 🇪🇺🇦🇿

“Family values”: the shield for violence in #Azerbaijan 🇦🇿⚡️ Girls as young as 12 are giving birth. Men who rape or “marry” them walk free. Families stay silent. Courts call it “consensual”.

The US-Azerbaijan Strategic Working Group set up in August, now begins its work — on “security” and “prosperity” 🇦🇿🇺🇸 No word on 392 political prisoners or on human rights. Partnerships that ignore repression legitimise it 💔⚖️💔

“If I were in Azerbaijan right now, I'd probably be in prison.” Like so many Azerbaijani journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders, Parvana Gurbanli now lives in exile 🇦🇿💔 Time for the EU @martakos.ec.europa.eu to support their work from abroad. @ecpmf.bsky.social www.ecpmf.eu/if-i-were-in...

We fully agree @martakos.ec.europa.eu Congratulations to our friends Andrzej Poczobut & Mzia Amaglobeli. The question is however why what the EU appears to stand for and support in Belarus or Georgia isn’t in any way what it stands for in Azerbaijan 🇦🇿🇪🇺

Security forces in Baku prevented Ulviya Ali's mother from visiting her after she came to congratulate her on her birthday 💔⚖️ www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/68971

President Aliyev calling for UN reform is irony at its peak. A president who crushes civil society, holds 392 political prisoners and ignores international law is in no position to lecture on multilateralism 🇦🇿 Trump's foreign policy speaks for itself 🇺🇸 www.jpost.com/opinion/arti...

“Azərbaycan məhkəmələri ədalətin yox, hakimiyyətin alətinə çevrilib” www.meydan.tv/az/article/b...

Just two days ago, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted its resolution on arbitrary detention 🇺🇳 Difficult not to think of all the human rights defenders, journalists, activists and academics behind bars in Azerbaijan because of their beliefs and work ⚖️🇦🇿 #ClimateOfRepression

The International Association of Judges is to meet in Baku: rights groups urge it to confront Azerbaijan’s captured judiciary ⚖️🇦🇿 Courts must not serve repression. 🔗 free-anar.site/human-rights... @ibanews.bsky.social

Not a word about human rights and political prisoners in Azerbaijan by EU leadership @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu 🇪🇺⚖️🇦🇿 We’re not surprised but remain disappointed.

The appalling conditions of the prison system in Azerbaijan is well know🔴⚖️🔴 Arbitrarily detained journalists are now reporting on what they witness and undergo in prisons accross the country. 🔗 www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Az...

“Prizes without freedom risk becoming trophies of hypocrisy”: This year’s Václav Havel Prize must signal the Council of Europe to turn praise of courage into action against autocrats, even within its own ranks 💪 www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democ...

Today at 14:45, Anar Mammadli’s trial continues at Baku Grave Crimes Court. He’s expected to resume his testimony exposing the political nature of the case. We call on international observers and diplomats to be present — your presence matters. #FreeAnar

The ECtHR has struck out new cases on politically motivated administrative detentions in Azerbaijan 📄 Unilateral declaration accepted: 💶 900 EUR for each applicant ⚖️ Acknowledgement of rights violations But no real remedy ⬇️

Tomorrow @coe should have welcomed journalist Ulvi Hasanli to receive the Vacláv Havel Prize in Strasbourg. He remains jailed🇦🇿 His wife Rubaba Guliyeva is under a travel ban and barred from attending @PACE_News🇪🇺 Repression continues. We stand with them and all detained in Azerbaijan.

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