Persecution of activists

February 09, 2026 19:57

• Human rights activists have recognized Kalmyk activist Baltykov as a political prisoner

  The criminal prosecution of Eduard Baltykov from Kalmykia is part of a security forces campaign against indigenous activists, according to the human rights project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial"*.

February 09, 2026 11:57

• The number of people pardoned in Azerbaijan has exceeded 15,000

  Over the past month and a half, 15,119 people have benefited from the large-scale amnesty announced by the Azerbaijani president, the Ministry of Justice reported.

February 09, 2026 09:59

• Alexander Lapshin complained about a series of detentions by Armenian security forces

  Blogger Alexander Lapshin claimed that Armenian security forces regularly detain him at the border because he is wanted in Belarus. An Armenian court dismissed Lapshin's lawsuit seeking an end to the detentions. 

December 18, 2025 19:12

• The European Parliament called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release political prisoners

  The European Parliament called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release political prisoners, including scientists Bahruz Samedov and Igbal Abilov. Members also emphasized the need for sanctions against the country's authorities for human rights violations.

December 18, 2025 08:49

• Scientists and human rights activists have called for the release of Bakhruz Samedov

  The international academic network Scholars at Risk has appealed to the Azerbaijani government to release researcher Bahruz Samedov. The petition was also supported by the human rights organization Amnesty International and the Norwegian Foundation for International Aid to Students and Scholars.

December 17, 2025 21:40

• Kadyrov's words underscored the political nature of Musayeva's persecution

  Kadyrov's statement that Zarema Musayeva was detained because of the Yangulbayev family's work on social media confirms the political nature of her persecution, but in the current reality, the Chechen leader's confession will not lead to a review of Musayeva's sentences, human rights activists noted.

December 17, 2025 18:27

• A Turkish court has rejected Hajibeyli's appeal against his detention in a deportation center

  The Istanbul Magistrate's Court for Criminal Cases upheld the decision to place Azerbaijani opposition figure Gultekin Hajibeyli in a deportation center. She considers the court's ruling and the overall decision to deport her unlawful.

December 17, 2025 14:47

• The UN Special Rapporteur called for the release of Azerbaijani human rights activist Mammadli

  UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of association and assembly Gina Romero has contacted Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev regarding the case of Azerbaijani human rights activist Anar Mammadli.

December 16, 2025 16:32

• Human rights activists considered the prosecutor's office's response to a complaint by activists from Kabardino-Balkaria to be a formality

  The Kabardino-Balkarian prosecutor's office explained its refusal to take action, citing security forces' failure to pressure the signatories of the petition in defense of Larisa Tuptsokova. Human rights activists dismissed this response as a formality.

December 16, 2025 09:49

• Alesker Mammadli remains in custody despite the need for treatment

  A Baku court has refused to ease the pretrial detention of Toplum TV founder Alesker Mammadli, who is in need of surgery.

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