Despite near-total government control over the media, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service has built a high-impact social-media presence in Azerbaijan and a reputation as a leading source of independent news.
The United States has demanded that the government of Azerbaijan immediately release a group of detained human rights activists, journalists, and civil society figures being held in what is seen as an "escalating crackdown" on civil society and press freedom in Azerbaijan.
Five Azerbaijani journalists who are reportedly affiliated with Meydan TV, a media outlet known for harshly criticizing government policy, have been detained in Baku, their relatives said on December 6.
A district court in the Azerbaijani capital on December 2 fined the chairman of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (APFP), Ali Karimli, over accusations that Karimli defamed a bitter rival in connection with his expulsion from the party five years ago.
The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) kicked off in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, on November 11 with hopes of making headway in the global battle to combat climate change. But it didn't take long for the proceedings to grind to a halt as bickering erupted over the meeting's agenda.
A Baku court has sentenced Azerbaijani journalist Nazakat Mammadova to 13 years in prison for treason on charges of spying for Russia, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
Farid Mehralizada, an economist and journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, marked five months in prison on October 30. He was arrested after making public statements criticizing the policies of the Azerbaijani government.
Azerbaijani journalist and economist Farid Mehralizada, who is affiliated with RFE/RL, marked his fifth month in custody on October 30 on charges that he and his supporters say are fabricated.
The European Parliament on October 24 denounced what it called violations of human rights and international law by Azerbaijan, saying Europe needs to end its dependency on gas from the Caucasus nation.
Vidadi Isgandarli, an Azerbaijani opposition figure in exile well-known for his fierce criticism of the government, has died in France after being brutally beaten and stabbed in an attack at his apartment that his family says was politically motivated.
As Azerbaijan readies to host the United Nations COP29 climate talks, residents near the capital, Baku, say oil pollution is posing a toxic hazard. The country's fossil-fuel resources have made it a leading player but people who live near the rigs complain that oil spills are ignored.
One year ago, Azerbaijan launched an offensive that resulted in regaining full control of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The more than 100,000 ethnic Armenian refugees that were forced to flee remain in limbo, while Azerbaijan has slowly begun to repopulate its newly regained territories.
Volunteer teacher Cosqun Eldaroglu is determined to get Azerbaijani village children a real education -- even if it means hours of driving to reach them. Residents who had no school access for children beyond fourth grade value the lessons in math, English, geography, and the Azeri language.
The Nasimi district court in Baku has set September 19 as the trial date for the chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (AXCP), Ali Karimli, who is being prosecuted on a charge of slander.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said his country and Armenia have agreed on about 80 percent of the text of a peace treaty.
Amnesty International has condemned as "alarming" a wave of preelection detentions and harassment by Azerbaijani authorities of critics, and it has urged the immediate release of political analyst Bahruz Samadov, who is accused of high treason, and others.
The ruling party of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is set to retain its majority in parliament after preliminary election results were released on September 2.
Voting has concluded in Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections on September 1, with reports of irregularities at polling stations and with the ruling party, as expected, appearing to be victorious, although possibly with fewer seats than previously.
President Ilham Aliyev’s moves have thrown cold water on hopes among Azerbaijanis and outsiders that a resolution of the “Karabakh question” could rejuvenate democratic impulses in Baku.
A petition has been launched urging Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release political analyst Bahruz Samadov and other scholars arrested by the South Caucasus nation's authorities in recent months.
A Baku court ruled that partially paralyzed Azerbaijani activist Famil Xalilov must remain in detention as preliminary hearings into his case began on August 29.
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