The whereabouts of two Azerbaijani writers remains unknown, after they were allegedly kidnapped in Iran. Farid Huseyn and Shahriyar Hajizade were reportedly set upon by eight men in civilian dress as their bus arrived from Tehran into Tabriz, in...
CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Baku: Peaceful protest crushed on eve of Eurovision
As the world turns its attention to Azerbaijan for the Eurovision Song Contest, police crack down on dissent in Baku.
Index calls on Azerbaijan government to protect human rights
Azerbaijan: “Tortured” singer flees country
A 24-year-old Azerbaijani musician who says he was tortured by police after he insulted the country’s president during a concert has fled to Germany over concerns for his safety. Jamal Ali had criticised President Ilham Aliyev and his late mother...

Index calls on Azerbaijan government to protect human rights
As the Eurovision Song Contest hits our screens next week, Index calls on the expected 125 million viewers not to ignore the human rights abuses – against journalists, artists, activists – in Azerbaijan
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Police crack down on Moscow “Occupy” protests
Vladimir Putin’s inauguration on 7 May was marked with mass protest actions, arrests and clashes with police, which have continued for the last two weeks and seem unlikely to stop. Since the inaguration ceremony, protesters have been holding an...
Northern Ireland: Contempt case against Peter Hain dropped
A contempt of court charge brought against former NI Secretary Peter Hain regarding criticisms he made of a judge in Northern Ireland has been dropped. Hain had written to Attorney General John Larkin about the remarks, stressing he never intended...
Azerbaijan: Opposition activist released
An Azerbaijani activist who was sentenced to two years in prison following demonstrations in Baku last year, has been released before completing his jail term. Elnur Majidli, an opposition activist, was charged with disturbing public order after...
UK: Broadcasters win legal fight over Dale Farm footage
A number of UK broadcasters have won a judicial review overturning a decision that had forced them to hand over video footage of October's Dale Farm evictions to Essex Police. ITN, the BBC, Sky, Hardcash Productions and the National Union of...

Russian punk collective Pussy Riot speaks exclusively to Index
The Russian feminist collective tells Index’s Elena Vlasenko they will continue to speak out, in spite of arrests and harassment

Russian punk collective Pussy Riot speaks exclusively to Index
The Russian feminist collective tells Index’s Elena Vlasenko they will continue to speak out, in spite of arrests and harassment