It would be naive to expect the government to take any steps to improve the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, given the unending pressure on human rights defenders, journalists and activists. The fact that Leyla Yunus remains seriously ill in jail and the death threats against journalist Shirin Abbasov are just two examples.   Government officials, including the president himself, have repeatedly declared that the Internet in Azerbaijan is free and uncensored. However, on November 16, 90% of the country was left without internet for six hours,...

This week saw a further crackdown on freedom of conscience, new prohibitions on covering religious issues introduced for journalists, and health problems suffered by imprisoned human rights defenders. The operation launched in Nardaran last week continued. The settlement remains under police control; electricity and water supplies have been suspended in violation of national law, and cable and mobile internet usage has been restricted. The latter in particular illustrates the level of government censorship. Internet speed has also been reduced in other parts of Baku. Detainees are...