News
A year in review – from online attacks to overall environment of internet censorship in Azerbaijan
december 16, 2022The following overview covers some of the prolific trends which illustrate the scope of digital authoritarianism and information controls in Azerbaijan observed and documented in the past year. Introduction This report covers the online attacks targeting personal information and devices of human rights defenders, activists, and democracy advocates in 2022. The data is collected through […]
blogger facing pressure over a video shared on Facebook
december 1, 2022Azerbaijani blogger Elmar Aziz was called into questioning on December 1 over what the blogger said was a video he shared about the traffic police. According to Turan News Agency, in the video shared by Aziz, traffic police are seen taking bribes from drivers. Aziz shared the video on Facebook. In an interview with Meydan […]
former member of the parliament faces criminal charges
november 30, 2022Gultekin Hajibeyli, the former member of the parliament told Meydan TV she is facing criminal charges over a comment she left on Facebook. According to Meydan TV reporting, Hajibeyli was held at the airport on her return from a work trip to Brussels and was informed she is facing slander charges. Hajibeyli said she was […]
In Azerbaijan, hasty legislative measures in response to cyber threats, leave protection of personal data on the back burner
november 28, 2022In an increasingly digitalized world, collection, retention, and processing of private data have an essential role for both private and public bodies for the purpose of their services to citizens or clients/users. However, in the absence of strong data protection regulations and cybersecurity, privacy infringements are inevitable. The analysis shared below indicates that in Azerbaijan, […]
Azerbaijan’s Media Registry leaves media platforms in limbo [Updated January 5, 2023]
november 24, 2022[Update] The first media platform to take State Media Registry into court became the online news site, 24saat.org according to reporting by Meydan TV. The site was refused its registry on the grounds that the activities on the said news website were not regular. The site’s management claims the decision was unlawful. *** In Azerbaijan according […]
political activist says he faced pressure by local police after refusing to share his phone password
november 23, 2022A member of D18 political movement, Afiaddin Mammadov, who was arrested on November 11 and sentenced to 30 days in administrative detention said during his appeal court that all the claims about him allegedly breaking a windshield and resisting police were untrue. Instead, he was taken against his will on November 11 by six plain-clothed […]
Police detains political activist over Facebook posts
november 14, 2022A member of a political movement D18 was detained by the police on November 11. Speaking to the local media the head of the movement Ahmad Mammadli said the activist, Orkhan Zeynalli was taken by the police over his Facebook posts that were critical of the police. According to Mammadli, the problem started a month […]
police briefly detains a member of an opposition party over social media posts
november 1, 2022Police in Baku detained a member of the opposition Popular Front party over social media posts according to reporting by Turan News Agency. Emin Akhundov was taken from his home on October 31 wrote Akhundov’s father on his Facebook. “Extraordinary things are happening in our country. Yesterday evening at around 19.30, two people from the […]
in Azerbaijan a reserve colonel gets jail time
october 7, 2022On October 6, the Baku Military court, sentenced reserve Colonel Elnur Mammadov to six months in prison. The court found Mammadov guilty of slander. Mammadov voiced criticism of the Ministry of Defense on social networks accusing it of cronyism and nepotism. The accusations were also leveled against the Ministry of Defense, Zakir Hasanov. According to […]
OONI Measurements Report September 2022
october 5, 2022This new OONI report provides an update based on the analysis of OONI measurements collected from Azerbaijan between May 2022 to September 2022. Access to the full report is available here. Key findings Blocked websites – measures show that at least 7 news media websites previously reported as blocked, remain inaccessible in the country. Among them […]