«Если Трамп захочет, он может добиться от Алиева освобождения всех 375 политзаключенных» shorturl.at/TrWjJ

The peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, announced recently at the White House, is perhaps the clearest sign yet that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s heavy-handed interventions in the South Caucasus have backfired, writes ‪@alikarimli.bsky.social‬. bit.ly/3JAvjkj

Ali Karimli, leader of Azerbaijan's democratic opposition, told @newsweek.com Aliyev had distanced himself from Moscow following the fall of Putin's ally, Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which signaled a weakening of Russian strength in the wider region. share.google/9xYbKXU14mXf...

One of Poland's most influential press outlets, the newspaper Rzeczpospolita, has published a large and comprehensive article about the tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia. A portion of that extensive piece consists of an interview with me. www.rp.pl/polityka/art...

A break with Russia is also not in the interests of Ilham Aliyev himself. First, there is the factor of millions of Azerbaijanis living in Russia. Secondly, the current contradictions, there is ideological affinity between Aliyev and Putin. charter97.org/en/news/2025...

According to Ali Karimli, Azerbaijan’s former secretary of state and now an opposition politician, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan “has built a classic authoritarian regime and maintains a monopoly over both political and economic life.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/w...

The war between Israel and Iran has diverted attention from Russia’s revanchism and aggression. But it is imperative that the West’s focus revert back to Ukraine and the South Caucasus.

Bahruz Samadov, a doctoral student at Charles University in the Czech Republic and a researcher accused of high treason, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. The verdict was handed down on June 23 by the Baku Grave Crimes Court.

“Ilham Aliyev can take away our physical freedom, but he cannot take away our freedom of thought, expression, and speech” @occrp.org shorturl.at/LPI8Z

“The case against Abzas Media is an example of how Azerbaijan’s judicial system is being weaponized to muzzle independent journalism and calls for a strong international response..." www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

"All seven journalists have dismissed the charges as politically motivated and linked to their journalism. International rights groups have called for their release." The Washington Post publishes extensive article on the arrest of AbzasMedia journalists. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

#Azerbaijan: RSF condemns the harsh prison sentences — of 7 to 9 years — handed down to Sevinj Vagifgizi and her colleagues in the unjust trial against Abzas Media. This political decision exemplifies the authorities’ systematic crackdown on independent journalism. They must be released!

The Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced the defendants in the “Abzas Media case” trial. According to the verdict, Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifqizi, Hafiz Babali, Farid Mehralızadeh were sentenced to 9 years in prison, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to 8 years, and Mahammad Kekalov to 7,5 years.

😯 Journalist: "What do you say to the Leader of Iran who says they won't give up?" Trump: "I say, Good luck!" Journalist: "When will your patience run out?" Trump: "It has already run out. That's why we do what we do."

Ruzi Bagirov, the chairman of the Assembly of the Dashkesan district branch of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan was arrested on June 13 for 30 days on trumped-up charges (resisting the police).

Repression continues in Azerbaijan. On June 11, 3 members of the Musavat Party were sentenced on charges of hooliganism. Bilasuvar District Court sentenced party members Aladdin Alasgarli and Jabir Valiyev to 2 years and 3 months in prison, and Goshgar Nurali to 2 years.

Russian officials have resumed their threats against Azerbaijan. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned Baku about the “risks” of cooperating with NATO. Just 2 day ago, President Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky, referred to Karabakh as a “disputed territory.”

In a country where over 10000 students are expelled from university each year because they can't afford tuition, a lavish new headquarters has been built for the State Customs Committee, an institution that already occupied a perfectly adequate building. Aliyev himself attended the opening ceremony.

“We no longer have anything to fear — we have been arrested, and from here, our voices will rise louder, will be heard further.” - Meydan TV Now 28 Azerbaijani journalists and media workers have been imprisoned — but they remain defiant. www.occrp.org/en/feature/t...

Rahil Guliyev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, was detained on June 7. It is reported that a criminal case has been initiated against him. R. Guliyev had been administratively detained for 30 days on false charges at the beginning of May and was released just two days before.

Mysterious chest from the 19th century

The Azerbaijani government’s relentless crackdown on journalists has eradicated any semblance of independent media from the country. Here’s how smuggling charges, harsh prison conditions, and pro-government attack dogs are strangling press freedom 👇 www.occrp.org/en/feature/t...

At the Republic Day celebration we held on May 28th in Novxanı, in front of the monument to Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh, alongside the flags of Azerbaijan and the PFPA, we also raised the flag of the EU. This act deeply unsettled the authorities.

Both our people and the international community must accept and acknowledge this message: unfortunately, neither we as a nation nor the international community are demanding the release of political prisoners from Ilham Aliyev with sufficient determination and insistence.

Ilham Aliyev signed a pardon decree. The decree released 175 people from prison. However, not a single one of the more than 360 political prisoners was included in the pardon list.

A criminal case has been opened against Novruz Taghiyev, the bodyguard of the chairman of the PFPA @alikarimli.bsky.social and party activist, on false charges, and he has been placed in pre-trial detention. According to the party, N. Taghiyev has been charged with fraud.

PFPA activist Rashad Aliyev was administratively arrested for 25 days on false charges. Rashad Aliyev was driving for PFPA chairman Ali Karimli on public grounds.

The regime’s hypocrisy is another form of oppression. At a time when slanders, illegal detentions, and unlawful prison sentences have reached their peak, the government of Azerbaijan has shamelessly declared a “Human Rights Month” in the country from May 18 to June 18. [1/6]

#Azerbaijan: A new hearing is scheduled tomorrow in the trial of Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of Abzas Media & her colleagues. RSF will now profile every journalist wrongly imprisoned in 🇦🇿. Today, there are 25, and we demand their immediate release. 👉 rsf.org/en/news-prof...

Tofig Yagublu's appeal trial ended on May 20. The court upheld Yagublu's 9-year prison sentence.

Today, in the Abzas Media case, the prosecutor requested 11 and 12 years in prison for the defendants. Ulvi Hasanli - 12 years Sevinj Vagifgizi - 11 years Mahammad Kekalov - 12 years Nargiz Absalamova - 11 years Elnara Gasimova - 11 years Hafiz Babali - 12 years Farid Mehralizade - 12 years

Ulviya Ali was an employee of Voice of America. After the Azerbaijan office of VOA was shut down, Ulviya Ali was left unemployed. Despite not working anywhere, she continued to shed light on the trials of political prisoners and bring attention to their issues through her Facebook and X accounts.

The leader of the ultra-conservative AUR party and the favourite in the presidential elections in Romania, George Simion, in an interview with The Telegraph rejected accusations of pro-Russian views and called Putin a "war criminal and dictator".

A member of the PFPA Ramil Guliyev, who is serving a sentence in prison No. 13, continues his hunger strike in protest of his unjust arrest. According to his brother Elnur Guliyev, officials of prison are demanding that Ramil stop his hunger strike by putting him in a punishment cell.

The judicial investigation in the "Abzas Media case" has been concluded. This was announced during the court session held on May 16. During the session, none of the motions submitted by the lawyers were granted, and none of the documents prepared during the investigation were examined.

Tofig Yagublu must be released immediately and given the opportunity to restore his health, which was damaged by a 40-day forced hunger strike, under the supervision of a reliable doctor!

President Donald Trump announced the United States will be removing all #sanctions against #Syria. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said.

2 journalistes ont été arrêtés début mai et ont subi des violences de la part de la police. Ces arrestations s'inscrivent dans le cadre d'une répression systématique du journalisme indépendant en Azerbaïdjan. Depuis fin 2023, plus de 30 journalistes et professionnels des médias ont été arrêtés.

I met with the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld. We discussed the situation in Azerbaijan and in our region, as well as the situation of more than 360 political prisoners in our country, with Tofig Yagublu at the forefront, and the silenced free press.

We demand freedom for our young female journalists who have been imprisoned as political prisoners! They are not criminals, but professional journalists. Their only “crime” is exposing corruption and repression, and bringing the people's problems to public attention.

Var, Ekrem bey, var. Biri de Azerbaycan'da var.

Tofig Yagublu ended his hunger strike on May 10 after the persistent request of his daughter Nigar, who met with him. 🙏

The National Council calls on Ilham Aliyev to uphold his responsibilities and immediately secure Tofig Yagublu’s release and survival. He must not forget: the unjust imprisonment of Yagublu places full legal, political, and moral responsibility squarely on his shoulders and that of his regime.

This suggests the regime is complicit in seeking Tofiq Yaqublu’s death. To prevent the Aliyev regime from killing him, everyone must raise their voices and protest this cruel and vindictive act.

On the 39th day of his hunger strike, Tofig Yagublu's condition became critical. His daughter Nigar called for help to save her father.

A court has sentenced public activist Ahmed Mammadli, who was detained on May 6, to four months in pretrial detention. Mammadli is accused of stabbing a man. He himself said he was arrested for his public activities.

Tofig Yagublu’s risk of dying in prison grows with each passing day. Today, he told his lawyer that he can no longer even drink water and that he “hears the footsteps of death.” At 65 years old, Tofig Yagublu has become severely weakened after 38 days of hunger strike.

INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST @ulviyyaali.bsky.social HAS BEEN DETAINED — YET ANOTHER ARREST IN THE CRACKDOWN LINKED TO THE "MEYDAN TV CASE". The journalist was detained on the night of May 7, and a search was conducted at her home. @rsf.org @hrw.org @freedomhouse.bsky.social

Today, a preparatory hearing was held at the Baku Court of Appeals regarding Tofiq Yaqublu's appeal. The court not only did not change the pretrial detention measure for Tofiq Yaqublu, but also set the next hearing for the latest possible date allowed by law.