Khadija Ismayilova, center, a reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has become a symbol of defiance during after her ordeal with Azerbaijan's authorities. (c) Aziz Karimov / AP / Press Association Images. All rights reserved.“1937 is back again with a vengeance.” These words, written in 1988 by a popular local singer to describe Stalin-era repressions, are on the lips of many in Azerbaijan once again. They’re often quoted on social media as a comment on the country’s latest round of arrests. A recent opposition rally in Baku on 17 September against the country’ recent constitutional referendum is a good example — the authorities used the opportunity to detain journalists alongside political activists.
The authoritarian regime of president Ilham Aliyev has a large toolkit of repression — from arrest to surveillance, harassment and deportation. Yet in some cases, the Azerbaijani authorities don’t directly arrest troublesome activists and journalists. Instead, they simply ban them from leaving the country.
Many journalists run into trouble with the authorities in Azerbaijan, who continue to harass them regardless of criticism of international human rights organisation
