Illustration: Mikroskop Media
UN Special Rapporteurs send appeal to Azerbaijan regarding imprisoned journalist Ulviyya Ali
Three UN Special Rapporteurs have sent an appeal to the Government of Azerbaijan concerning Ulviyya Ali, who has been imprisoned since May 6, 2025.
The appeal includes:
The journalist's detention
Mistreatment against her
Physical abuse at a police station during her detention
A country exit ban imposed before her detention
Concerns about her medical condition
The document raises specific concerns about legal procedures. It states that Ülviyya Ali's time of arrest was recorded differently in official documents, she was not provided timely access to a lawyer, opportunities to meet with her chosen defense attorney were restricted, and her appeals were rejected without justification.
Ulviyya Ali was arrested in connection with the “Meydan case.” He is charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling, committed by a group of persons acting in collusion).
The journalist denies the charges and attributes his arrest to his professional activities.
While in Baku, JD Vance spoke with Ilham Aliyev about the imprisoned economist Farid Mehralizadeh
US Vice President JD Vance spoke with Ilham Aliyev about Farid Mehralizadeh, an economist and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty employee arrested in the “Abzas Media case,” during his official visit to Azerbaijan in February.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Steve Capus posted about this on the X.
Farid Mehralizadeh was arrested in May 2024 as part of the “Abzas Media case.” On June 20, 2025, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.
In Tbilisi, 5 people's property will be confiscated for the construction of a center named after Haydar Aliyev
In the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, the construction of a Cultural Center named after Haydar Aliyev, the father of former President and current President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, is planned.
However, before construction has even begun, it is already accompanied by serious problems and human rights violations.
What is the problem: Five people who own property on the construction site do not agree with the offer made by the government. To resolve the issue, Georgian Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili signed a decision on the compulsory acquisition of the properties, citing the “public needs of the state.”
What we know about the Cultural Center: The Haydar Aliyev Center will be built on the site of the old bathhouse. The land acquisition will be financed by the Georgian government, while the construction of the center will be carried out by Azerbaijan.
“Peace Bridge” Initiative: Armenian Delegation in Azerbaijan
The next bilateral roundtable was held from April 10-12 with the participation of delegations from Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The initiative, called “Peace Bridge,” aims to contribute to the development of dialogue and direct interaction between the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations.
The Armenian delegation entered Azerbaijan via the land border, crossing the delimited and demarcated area and undergoing all relevant border and passport control procedures.
Meeting agenda: The current state of the peace process, the activities of the “Bridge of Peace” initiative participants in their respective countries and the results achieved, and a discussion of the situation in the region.
Previously, as part of this initiative, a delegation from Azerbaijan visited Armenia on February 13.