Azerbaijan

On International Human Rights Day, the Human Rights Club (HRC) reiterates its deep concern regarding continued widespread and systemic human rights violations in Azerbaijan.

The Baku-based Art for Democracy campaign has launched a new fundraising campaign through the crowdfunding website Indiegogo.

On the World Television Day, the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) calls on the Azerbaijani government to embark on reforms to ensure broadcasting pluralism and diversity in Azerbaijan.

In early October 2013, some 1,300 international observers from 50 different organisations arrived in Azerbaijan to monitor presidential elections. Forty-nine monitoring groups praised the elections as free and fair, meeting European standards.

Azadliq, an independent Azerbaijani newspaper, is in danger of folding. The paper has come under severe economic pressure to silence its critical voice following the country’s presidential election.

Azerbaijan’s government has unleashed a massive crackdown on the civil society and media in the wake of the October presidential election, the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) said today.

Internet freedom is under threat in Azerbaijan as intimidation and harassment of online activists and bloggers, restrictive laws, obstacles to access and politically motivated surveillance are seen to be on the rise, says the Expression Online coalition.

According to the official results, the presidential election held in Azerbaijan on 9 October 2013 resulted in a landslide victory for incumbent president Ilham Aliyev, with 85% of the vote.

Azerbaijan’s record on free expression has undergone a marked deterioration in the run up to its presidential election, a report of Index on Censorship says.

In a joint call, issued n the eve of the Presidential election, 22 human right organisations and press freedom campaigners warn that the failure of the government of Azerbaijan to respect human rights, including freedom of expression, undermines the democratic legitimacy