“North Korea of Azerbaijan”

For more than 26 years, Vasif Talybov has been keeping Nakhchivan in a tight grip.

Those arrested during his reign were subjected to beatings and various tortures. Dissidents were forced into psychiatric hospitals. He also used his power to silence the independent media. Journalists and activists who criticized Talybov’s rule were subjected to pressure and arrests or were forced to leave the country.

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Azerbaijan scores 154 of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders’ 2022 Press Freedom Index

In it, Azerbaijan ranks 154th out of 180 countries, between Belarus (153) and Russia (155) and only two places above Afghanistan (156). The other two countries in the South Caucasus, Georgia and Armenia are ranked 89th and 51th respectively.

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Azerbaijan’s Despotic Ruler Throws ‘Tantrum’ In Unprecedented Crackdown On Pro-Democracy Rivals

Facing growing public dissent over corruption, a mismanaged economy, his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and no progress in the country’s long-running conflict with neighboring Armenia, Azerbaijan’s strong-arm ruler Ilham Aliyev decided to crack down on the opposition.

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