'Throwing Spitballs from Berlin to Baku'

This is one of my recent articles written for Transition Online about a young satirist, commentator and video blogger living in Berlin and doing what he does best- playing "satirical" games with Azerbaijan's government. Here is a short excerpt from that article, to read the full story click here.

[...] The satirical publications that have taken their place steer clear of politics. But not Abdullayev. The 28-year-old continues to throw pitballs at Aliyev and his henchmen from 2,200 miles away in Berlin, where he moved in 2002 to follow his father, a political activist who had been threatened by the government [...]

Blackmailing at its best- the case of Khadija Ismayil (UPDATED see links below)

While I am posting this days after the letter is sent, I still wanted to share this important document, signed by MEPs at the European Parliament, addressing the recent blackmailing scandal against well known Azerbaijani investigative journalist, Khadija Ismayil.

Khadija received a package at her home address in Baku on the International Women's Day (surely this was no coincidence but further attempt to humiliate this person). The package contained photos of intimate nature and a threat note with inappropriate language- if Khadija was not to immediately give an end to her work as a journalist she was to face heavy consequences.

Here is the full letter addressing this incident and the reaction of the Parliament.

With Eurovision so close, such threats only illustrate Azerbaijan's attitude to "ensuring" freedom of expression in this country. It should come as no surprise, but perhaps, this would give those who advocate for Azerbaijan being a true democracy a gist of what is going on beneath the glitz and glam of it all. But then again... It all depends on who is judging...

European Parliament Letter to the President of Azerbaijan

Amnesty International "Azerbaijan: Secret sex video used to smear investigative journalist"
Global Voices Online "Azerbaijan: Investigative Journalist Defiant After Blackmail Threat"
The Independent "Sex video used to blackmail Azerbaijani journalist"