At the close of the year, the International Press Institute (IPI) takes a look at 10 states that have poor records on press freedom, but on whose strategic support the west depends. These ‘Friends’ of the West, Enemies of Press Freedom are listed in no particular order below. *********************************************************** Turkey Friend: Relations between the west and […]

An Azerbaijani journalist and writer known for his criticism of the governments in Baku and Tehran has died four days after a brutal stabbing attack. Rafiq Tağı was stabbed seven times outside his Baku home on 19 November, according to various news sources.  He was transported to a hospital and had been recovering from what […]

The government of Azerbaijan has stepped up its campaign to silence independent media and free expression in the country, according to a new report by Amnesty International. In the report, called “The spring that never blossomed: Freedoms suppressed in Azerbaijan,” Amnesty details a worsening human rights situation in the oil-rich former Soviet republic.  The group […]

Azerbaijani authorities have arrested an opposition newspaper editor following a Parliament member’s claim that the editor demanded more than €9,200 from her to avoid the release of compromising information. Local media reported that authorities detained Khural Chief Editor Avaz Zeynalli Friday on blackmail and extortion charges under a court order allowing them to hold him […]