Tag Archives: rights and freedoms

Freed Russian blogger accuses Georgia of colluding with Azerbaijan

SEPT. 21 (The Bulletin) — In a blog post after being released from a prison in Azerbaijan, Russian-Israeli travel blogger Alexander Lapshin accused Georgia of colluding with the Azerbaijani authorities in handing over information about his movements. Mr Lapshin had been jailed this year for crossing into the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani business, including state-owned oil and gas company Socar, invest heavily in Georgia. Georgia has previously been accused of colluding with Azerbaijan in sharing intelligence and handing over dissidents.

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— This story was first published in issue 344 of The Conway Bulletin, now called the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Sept. 24 2017.

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2017

Tajikistan blocks Iran’s application to join the SCO

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SEPT. 20 (The Bulletin) — Tajikistan is blocking Iranian membership of the Russia and China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) because it accuses Tehran of supporting a banned Islamic party, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported. The SCO is often viewed in the West as a military organisation, although its functions and institutions go further. It is focused on Central Asia, although this year India and Pakistan joined. SCO ascension needs approval from every member.

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— This story was first published in issue 344 of The Conway Bulletin, now called the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Sept. 24 2017.

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2017

Wife of imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist says Georgian authorities colluded

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SEPT. 19 (The Bulletin) — Leyla Mustafayeva, the wife of the imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, accused the authorities in Georgia of continuing to spy on her and her family. Mr Mukhtarli is being held in detention in Baku after he was abducted outside his home in Tbilisi in May. The Georgian authorities have denied that they collaborated with their Azerbaijani counterparts.

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— This story was first published in issue 344 of The Conway Bulletin, now called the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Sept. 24 2017.

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2017

Azerbaijani court sentences journalist to prison for extortion

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SEPT. 18 (The Bulletin) — A court in Azerbaijan sentenced journalist Alcin Ismayilli to nine years in prison for extortion and abuse of office, offences he denies. Critics of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have said that he has waged a systematic campaign against critical media.

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— This story was first published in issue 344 of The Conway Bulletin, now called the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Sept. 24 2017.

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2017

First lesbian to run for political office in Georgia

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SEPT. 16 (The Bulletin) — Nino Bolkvadze, a gay lawyer, will compete for a seat in the Tbilisi City Council elections next month, the first lesbian to run for political office in Georgia. Ms Bolkvadze will run for the Republican Party, a staunchly pro-European party, in the election. Georgia is still regarded as a strongly conservative country with strong anti-LGBT rights movements.

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— This story was first published in issue 344 of The Conway Bulletin, now called the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Sept. 24 2017.

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2017

Human Rights Watch criticises Turkmenistan

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SEPT. 13 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — On the eve of the opening of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Human Rights Watch criticised the various Asian Olympic committees for ignoring abuses in Turkmenistan. Turkmen President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is intent on using the Games as a propaganda tool but rights activists say Turkmenistan has one of the world’s worst human rights records.
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— This story was first published in issue 343 of The Conway Bulletin on Sept. 15 2017

Aliyev pardons Russian blogger who visited Nagorno-Karabakh

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SEPT. 11 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned Israeli/Russian travel blogger Alexander Lapshin who was imprisoned in July for three years for illegally entering the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. After he was released, Mr Lapshin was immediately flown to Israel for hospital treatment. Azerbaijan sees Russia and Israel as two of its closest allies. It fought Armenia in a war for control of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s.
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— This story was first published in issue 343 of The Conway Bulletin on Sept. 15 2017

Azerbaijan release newspaper editor from pre-trial detention

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SEPT. 11 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — The authorities in Azerbaijan released Mehman Aliyev, head of the Turan news agency which is described as the country’s only remaining independent media outlet, from pre-trial detention but said an investigation into alleged tax avoidance was ongoing. Mr Aliyev’s detention last month has enraged human rights groups and Western governments who have said the allegations are fabricated. Azerbaijan has been accused of cracking down on free media.
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— This story was first published in issue 343 of The Conway Bulletin on Sept. 15 2017

Azerbaijani Appeal Court frees newspaper editor

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SEPT. 15 (The Bulletin) — An appeals court in Azerbaijan freed the financial director of the Azerbaijani opposition daily Azadiliq (Liberty), Faiq Amirli, from prison in what has been hailed by rights activists as a rare victory. Amirli was sentenced to prison in July for tax evasion. Prosecutors said he owned books by the exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey, Azerbaijan’s key ally, has accused Gulen of inciting a failed coup last year.

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— This story was first published in issue 344 of The Conway Bulletin, now called the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Sept. 24 2017.

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2017

Free jailed reporter lobby group tells Azerbaijan

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AUG. 29 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Paris-based lobby group Reporters Without Borders issued a statement criticising the continued internment of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli who was kidnapped from near his home in Tbilisi three months ago. The group said that Mr Mukhtarli, who is currently being held in an Azerbaijani prison, is in poor health. Georgian officials have denied that they collaborated with Azerbaijan to kidnap Mr Mukhtarli. He is considered a dissident writer and had fled to Georgia a couple of years earlier.

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(News report from Issue No. 342, published on Sept. 7 2017)