Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus
Independent media wage losing battle against censorship in Azerbaijan
Since 2017, independent and opposition online news outlets have faced censorship via blocking on spurious grounds.
The Baku Connection: Journalists across the world unite to support Azerbaijan's Abzas Media
Some 40 journalists from 15 media outlets have joined the project since its launch as Abzas Media team who started the investigations, await trial in Baku.
Fake accounts and presidential elections in Kazakhstan
The ruling leadership in Kazakhstan is aware of the importance of capturing the hearts and minds of internet users, spreading disinformation and using artificial automated accounts to imitate enthusiastic support for the government.
New report uncovers the first documented case of Pegasus spyware used in an international war context
"This investigation is key to understanding the full scope of harms of invasive Pegasus spyware and the entire industry which has been operating with little to no oversight for years."
Importing illiberal practices: The Kyrgyz state’s attack on media, journalists and bloggers
The Kyrgyz government is importing illiberal practices from Russia, and these changes have impacted public lives and affected the activity of media, journalists and bloggers.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kazakhstan
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Kazakhstan is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
In Kazakhstan, political dissidents accused of spreading disinformation
These incidents show how the Kazakh government does not hesitate to abuse its own laws, purportedly enacted to safeguard citizens, for its own ends to repress dissent and maintain control of the narrative.
Social media censorship and information manipulation after Sadyr Zhaparov's rise in Kyrgyzstan
The Kyrgyz authorities are also using the narrative of “foreign interests” to adopt a law on ‘foreign agents’ largely inspired by the Russian model.
New study finds internet censorship in Turkmenistan reaches over 122,000 domains
"One of the worst blocking rules in Turkmenistan is that the government blocks every website that ends with w.org, which is Wordpress, used by activists and bloggers."
In Azerbaijan, journalists unite in saying ‘we do not want licensed media’
The campaign demands that the government repeal the law, alleging it violates Azerbaijan's Constitution, and remove the requirement for registration with the Media Registry.
Against journalists, violence without borders in Kazakhstan
In 2022, dozens of journalists were detained or summoned by the police. And while most of these instances occurred during Qandy Qantar, in some cases they seem specifically targeted.
Georgians take to the streets as parliament considers new ‘foreign agent’ bill
Hundreds of Georgians took the streets to protest what civil society describe as Georgia's very own "foreign agent" law.
Georgia debates a foreign agent law, which critics say sets a dangerous precedent
The bill was tabled by a group of parliament members, formally from the ruling Georgian Dream who quit the party ranks last year and formed their own political party called People's Power.
No good news for media freedom in Kyrgyzstan as government arrests journalists, activists, and bloggers
In the meantime, the government continues its practice of freezing media outlets’ bank accounts and blocking websites, publicly harassing journalists and social media activists.
Police detains scores of activists at an opposition party rally in Azerbaijan
According to local media reports, police started rounding up members of the party and other attendees hours ahead of the scheduled rally.
Will Georgia break the cycle of surveillance in return for EU membership?
The Council of Europe's Venice Commission issued an Urgent Opinion on Georgia's recently passed amendments on the so- called wiretapping law on August 26.
In Georgia, veteran journalist sentenced to 3.5 years in jail
Gvaramia was first charged in 2020 with abuse of power, embezzling property at Rustavi 2, commercial bribery, and forging documents. He was found not guilty on the last three counts.
Nothing new in the ‘New Kazakhstan’ as attacks on social media freedom continue
As the world marks World Free Press Day, the government of Kazakhstan enacts a law restricting social media freedom in a country where media are under control of state authorities.
In Azerbaijan, the state of media freedom is dismal, experts say
When at least four journalists remain behind bars, independent and opposition websites are blocked, and censorship prevails in Azerbaijan, there is little cause for celebration on this day.
Twenty far-right activists convicted over July 5 attack on journalists
Tbilisi City Court has convicted 20 far-right activists for the attacks on at least 53 media workers and others during the aborted Pride March in Tbilisi on 5 July 2021.
