Azerbaijan is trying to polish its image in connection with the climate summit COP29, but ahead of the meeting, pressure on opposition voices has increased.
According to Human Rights Watch, the regime has intensified its crackdown on journalists and climate activists over the past two years, often with fabricated criminal charges and legislative changes that restrict their ability to work.
Ahead of COP29, the authorities have extended the detention of at least eleven journalists from the country's few independent news media outlets following allegations of currency smuggling in connection with alleged funding from Western donors.
President Ilham Aliyev has ruled Azerbaijan with an iron fist for over 20 years. No elections held during his time in power have been deemed free and fair by international observers.
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