In spite of the oblique language, the response was immediate and explosive. Many accused Pashinyan of trying to incite violence against his opponents, and even in more generous interpretations that he was engaging in an unproductive search for enemies when the country is in crisis. “Don’t you have anything better to do than to watch dozens of videos?” one user asked under his post.
In recent days, while we are all grasping at any sign of hope for the region, it is remarkable to see that there have been desperate calls for peace from Armenians and Azerbaijanis around the world. But beyond the undisputedly symbolic and signaling value of such calls lies a challenge for peacebuilding work, as “peace” is neither ceasefire, appeasement, nor absence of war
Azerbaijan’s government has been aggressive, at least, in taking advantage of the crisis to attack its political opposition. In a March 19 speech, Aliyev openly threatened opposition figures, calling them a “fifth column” that was taking advantage of coronavirus to sow panic. He warned that they may have to be “isolated” as a result
Azerbaijani police detained at least 20 people at a demonstration in Baku on February 11, injuring several of them. The protesters, including independent candidates, were voicing their anger over widespread violations in the parliamentary elections two days earlier
Citing security concerns, in the wake of the accidental downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet by the Iranian military, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has banned Iranian teams in its championship tournament from hosting games in Iran.
Sevil Mammadova, whose grandson Raul Suleymanov was sentenced to four years in prison on charges including mass disorder, violence against representatives of the state, and drug-related offenses, said he was tortured as well
Protesters in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, have called for the immediate release of an Azeri journalist abducted in Georgia in 2017 and forcibly taken to neighboring Azerbaijan Meanwhile Police clashed with Azerbaijani opposition groups rallying against the government of President Ilham Aliyev on May 28, amid reports of earlier detentions~