Until a couple of months ago, few in Mexico City knew who Heydar Aliyev was, and even fewer of those were aware that a marble and bronze statue erected in his honour sat smack in the middle of Reforma Avenue, one of Mexico’s most recognised streets. A plaque standing before the statue detailed the former president of Azerbaijan’s “loyalty to the universal ideals of world peace”. But the presence of the dead dictator sparked controversy in Mexico City. The conflict over how Mexico City accepted $5 million dollars from Azerbaijan to build the statue, as well as a park, has been brewing since November. The agreement to build the statue was reached by the leftist government of the Partido de la Revolucion […]
CATEGORY: Azerbaijan
Many arrested at Baku protest
Prominent journalist and activists Emin Milli and Khadija Ismayilova were among those detained in Baku today as people demonstrated in support of civic action in Ismayilli earlier this week. Protesters posted photographs and videos of clashes...

Have Europe’s politicians failed Azerbaijan?
This week the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) did not pass a resolution pressurising Azerbaijan to release or retry its political prisoners. Rebecca Vincent looks at how the body’s lack of pressure further endangers free expression in the country
Europe turns its back on Azerbaijan’s political prisoners
The future for political prisoners in Azerbaijan looks bleak after politicians at the Council of Europe (CoE) failed adopt an important resolution today calling for more than 80 cases to be resolved. Azerbaijani authorities repeatedly deny the...

PAST EVENT: 30 Jan: Amazing Azerbaijan! A film screening and discussion
30 Jan: Amazing Azerbaijan! A film screening and discussion

The modern Big Brothers
Autocratic, authoritarian and totalitarian states take it upon themselves to actively stifle freedom of expression. These states can look very different – “socialist” North Korea may seem very different to “theocratic” Iran, but even with vastly differing cultures and political landscapes, we can draw similarities between the methods used by these regimes to suffocate and in some cases entirely suppress free speech
The obscure threat to the internet you need to know about
As an arcane UN body seeks new relevance and campaigns to take over internet governance, Dominique Lazanski outlines the risks it poses to net freedom and free speech

Attacks on journalists and activists must stop
The International Day to End Impunity is a campaign to highlight the necessity of protecting press freedom around the world, says Padraig Reidy

Does Keir Starmer see the problem with poppy burners?
A panel discussion in London yesterday did not offer much hope that prosecutors and politicians will defend free speech online.
Paul Bernal reports
Index tells policy makers to keep the internet free
As Index launches a policy note ahead of the Internet Governance Forum, Marta Cooper asks if can we keep the internet free
The government of Azerbaijan has curtailed the ability of its citizens to express dissent, expose corruption or press for respect of human rights.