Baku

23 Posts

•

0 Followers

One of the blockading lorries. Photo via Turan.az.

Azerbaijan

Trucker protest briefly shuts down Azerbaijan’s largest highway

by Peter Liakhov

•2 min read

Four lorry drivers parked their vehicles across Heydar Aliyev avenue in Baku, halting traffic on the country’s largest highway. The men were protesting being denied permits that would allow them to transport goods across the Azerbaijani border. Traffic was blocked from approximately 6:00 to 11:00 on 17 February, before traffic police arrived on the scene, and the drivers moved their vehicles and returned home. A slogan written on one of the lorries read: ‘It is Anar Rzayev, the head of the

Police detain protesters. Video still via Meydan TV.

Azerbaijan

Dozens arrested in Baku during protest demanding release of Saleh Rustamli

by Ismi Aghayev

•2 min read

At least 40 protesters were detained for breaching pandemic health protocols during a protest demanding freedom for opposition Popular Front Party member Saleh Rustamli. He has been on hunger strike for nearly a month. The rally was held in Baku’s Fountain Square on 1 December. Most of those detained by the police have since been released. Many activists numbered among those who were detained, including former political prisoners Tofig Yagublu, Ilkin Rustamzade, Nigar Hazi. Yagublu and Da

2014: Lokbatan Oil Field. From nowhere, a Soviet Volga screeched to a halt. A tall man unfolded himself from the car and demanded my documents. I was arrested, the reason, ‘this is a strategic object'.

Azerbaijan

In pictures | Strategic object: Baku’s years of transformation

by Chloe Borkett

•3 min read

Since the 19th century, Azerbaijan’s wealth has come from oil. Baku, its oil-pumping epicentre, curls around the Caspian Sea and has become a focal point for those following apparent dreams of prosperity, drawing over half the population, five out of nine million people, into the city. Since the second oil boom of 2005, Azerbaijan’s ever-expanding capital has continued its rapid transformation. As the sun breaks, the dawn light outlines the city’s newly newbuilt skyl

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani students struggle with high tuition fees

by Kamran Mahmudov

•5 min read

With some of the highest tuition fees in the region but low performance, critics say Azerbaijan’s education system doesn’t make the grade. Umman Safarov will not be returning to university this September. He could not continue his studies at the Faculty of Journalism at Baku State University (BSU) because he could not afford the tuition. ‘I had to pay for my degree, but I didn’t have enough [money]. Maybe I’ll finish it someday.’ Safarov tells OC Media. ‘It is nothing but a waste of time

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s new morality police

by Sabina Abubakirova

•6 min read

New police units are to be created in Baku with the aim of fighting ‘cases contradictory to public morality’, especially sex-work. Critics say that this may be a cover for further state interference with independent social and political life. On 2 September, Report.az cited Elshad Hajiyev, the chief spokesperson of the Baku City Main Police Department, as saying that ‘to strengthen the fight for morality and against behaviour contrary to the national mentality’, new specialised police u

(Mockup pictures credit: Orkhan Ata/E&M, Meydan TV)

amnesty

Opinion | Cosmetic touch-ups won’t break Azerbaijan’s cycle of crisis

by Arzu Geybulla

•5 min read

In a country in need of far more profound reforms, cosmetic changes simply won’t do. The Azerbaijani government must address the underlying issues instead of buying time with occasional raises and lip-service amnesties. Three years ago, when Azerbaijan’s economy tanked as a result of a global fall in oil prices, a wave of protests swept across the country. From Siyazan, through Lankaran, Fuzuli, to Aghsu, people called on the authorities to reduce inflation and address price hikes and

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s paralysed civil society

by Kamran Mahmudov

•5 min read

Over the past six years, Azerbaijan’s civil society has deteriorated on all fronts. As the government continues to interfere with the activities of NGOs, prosecuting human rights defenders and political activists alike, banning them from travelling abroad, and freezing their bank accounts, the sector has become paralysed. Akif Gurbanov has headed the Institute for Democratic Initiatives since its founding in 2013. The Baku-based group was created by a group of lawyers and other public fi