Stories about Azerbaijan

A Different Kind of Free Speech

  30 December 2013

There are currently 142 people in prison or detention for "politically motivated reasons" in Azerbaijan. Activist and blogger Arzu Geybullayeva reflects on the country's approach to human rights and Internet governance in 2013.

Imgur.com blocked in Azerbaijan?

  7 February 2013

Popular image-sharing site Imgur.com appears to be blocked in Azerbaijan. There is little evidence that Imgur is popular in Azerbaijan. But a few weeks ago, when hacker group Anonymous released a huge volume of documents leaked from Special State Protection Service of Azerbaijan, a user went through the materials and posted some of the more interesting documents available on Imgur.com. This post details a user's technical investigation of the blocking.

Azerbaijan: “A Country that Portrays Social-Networkers as Mentally Ill”

  7 November 2012

While all eyes were on the presidential election in the United States, a major international conference started on Tuesday in Baku, the capital of the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. The 7th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) claims to bring “all stakeholders” as equal partners to discuss major issues relating not only to the future of the Internet but also to matters of policing, management, and of course, freedom of expression online.

Controversy Over the Internet Governance Forum's 2012 Venue

  30 September 2011

As the 6th Internet Governance Forum is about to close its doors, controversy has emerged over the next venue. The venue has not been discussed in a multi-stakeholder way (including not only governments and businesses but also civil society). And it is those who were excluded from the decision who have the most concerns about Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan: Youth Activist Sentenced

  5 May 2011

Jabbar Savalan, a 20-year-old opposition youth activist, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison on drug possession charges. However, others maintain that Javalan was detained because of calls made on Facebook for demonstrations to be held in Azerbaijan following popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

Azerbaijan Deports Swedish Television Crew

  25 April 2011

The Commitee to Protect Journalists reports that Azerbaijan has deported a Swedish television crew which had arrived to film a documentary on human rights situation in the country. “According to CPJ sources and local press reports, plainclothed men detained journalists My Rohwedder Street, Charlie Laprevote, and Charlotta Wijkström at a protest...

Azerbaijan: Anonymous says Big Brother might be watching you

  19 March 2011

Since activists in Azerbaijan started using Facebook to coordinate and widen their activities, the authorities in the former Soviet republic are starting to keep a closer eye on social networking sites. Now, new allegations have emerged from Anonymous, the international hacking group.

Azerbaijan: Blowing Up in Their Facebook

  10 March 2011

Baku seems to be getting savvier about how to discredit, marginalize, or monitor online activists. This article was originally published on 9 March 2011 by Transitions Online and is used by permission.

Azerbaijan: As protests loom, Facebook is monitored

  3 March 2011

Recent events in the Middle East and North Africa have highlighted the potential use of online social networks for activism, but they have also added weight to existing personal and security concerns. Now, as their own day of protest draws near, online activity by prominent alternative voices in Azerbaijan appears to be monitored.

Azerbaijan: ‘Donkey bloggers’ released

  19 November 2010

Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, two video blogging youth activists, were conditionally released late this week in Azerbaijan, the oil-rich former Soviet republic. However, both men maintain their innocence while international human rights groups and organizations consider the charges against them to be politically motivated.

Azerbaijan: Free Expression under Attack

  22 October 2010

The report is the result of joint freedom of expression mission undertaken from 7 to 9 September, 2010. The mission representatives met with journalists and bloggers, collected testimonies from survivors of violent attacks, and family members of imprisoned journalists and bloggers, including Hikmet Hajizade, the father of imprisoned blogger Adnan Hajizade. The mission representatives also held meetings with civil society activists and government representatives.

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