News

The blocking of 3,932 YouTube channels linked to Azerbaijan-backed influence operations by Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) in the first two quarters of 2025 indicates a persistent and significant effort to spread propaganda. These channels were specifically noted for “sharing content in Azerbaijani, supportive of Azerbaijan, and critical of Armenia and critics of the Azerbaijani […]

On July 14, the parliament of Azerbaijan adopted amendments to the already restrictive Law on Media, tightening state control over information and extending censorship capabilities to digital platforms. One of the most significant changes is the expansion of the term “Media Entity” to include the local offices and representative branches of foreign media organizations. These […]

On July 28, Imameddin Alimanov, a blogger living abroad and the founder of the YouTube channel called “Xalq TV,” was sentenced to 7 years on charges of making public calls against the state. In May 2021, a search warrant was issued for the blogger. In March of this year, several other bloggers living abroad were summoned, all suspects under […]

On May 31, 2025, a court in Baku issued arrest warrants against exiled bloggers Tural Sadigli, Ordukhan Temirkhan (Babirov), and a government critic, former rector of Azerbaijan International University Elshad Abdullayev. Sadigli was charged with Article 178.3.1 (fraud by an organized group), Article 220.2 (incitement to mass unrest), and Article 320 (forgery of documents). Temirkhan […]

2024 was a year of a series of arrests of TikTokers in Azerbaijan. In April 2024, approximately 60 TikTokers were called in for questioning and received various administrative sentences or fines. In December 2024, authorities in Azerbaijan issued arrest warrants against 10 TikTok users. Some were arrested on the grounds of drug possession, others for gambling. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused the […]

In April 2024, police arrested Imran Aliyev, one of the founders of the meclis.info website, at the Baku Haydar Aliyev International Airport. Aliyev was accused of smuggling charges and sent into pretrial detention. Since then, additional charges have been leveled against him, including abuse of power, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and document forgery – all […]

On February 5, 2025, Azerbaijani authorities detained independent journalist Shamshad Aghayev, editor-in-chief of the online media outlet arqument.az. His residence was searched, and personal belongings, including electronic devices, were confiscated. Aghayev has been charged with smuggling under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, which pertains to smuggling committed by a group of persons in […]

Civic activist Famil Khalilov has been handed a conditional sentence of 3 years with a 2-year probation period. Khalilov was arrested on May 2, 2024, on spurious drug charges. He was transferred under house arrest in December 2024. The activist was accused of drug charges – possession of a large amount of drugs with the […]

According to reporting by Meydan TV, the Media Development Agency (MEDİA) has filed a lawsuit to block the news site “Anaxeber.info.” The website’s editor-in-chief, Azer Talibov, told Meydan TV that the blocking request is linked to the website’s critical reporting covering corruption, government misconduct, and social issues. He claimed that despite multiple requests from the Media Agency […]

In September 2024, the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) established a special commission on foreign interference and hybrid threats. MP Ramid Namazov chairs the commission, which comprises several members of parliament. The commission was set up shortly after Pavel Durov visited Azerbaijan (more on that here and here.) The commission’s mandate includes preparing reports on instances of […]