An Azerbaijani opposition figure called for unity around Popular Front Party leader Ali Karimli.

Azerbaijani opposition figure Gulu Mehmedli harshly criticized the authorities, accusing the country's leadership of repression, fear-mongering, and suppression of public activism. He called the rule of the Aliyev father and son the source of "political decline and total hopelessness" in the country.

According to Mehmedli, during the 33 years of the Aliyev family's rule, Azerbaijan has fallen to 171st place in the world press freedom index, falling behind Belarus and several African countries. The opposition figure believes the current system of power deliberately maintains an "atmosphere of fear and apathy" in society.

Mehmedli cited support for Popular Front Party leader Ali Karimli as a way out of the crisis. He emphasized that "for decades, he has steadfastly defended democratic principles and Azerbaijan's European perspective." He also called on citizens to rally around Karimli, stating that a unified society could lead to rapid political change.

Azerbaijani human rights activists Leyla Yunus and Elshan Hasanov presented an updated list of political prisoners, prepared according to PACE criteria. According to the published data, the number of political prisoners in the country has reached 328. Among them are 44 representatives of opposition parties and civil society, 31 journalists and bloggers, and eight human rights activists. Believers remain the largest category, with 182 people.

Последние новости
Saakashvili calls for closing Georgia's border with Russia over plague reports
Politics
Saakashvili calls for closing Georgia's border with Russia over plague reports
7 October 2026

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has urged the country's authorities to close the border with Russia and ban Russian citizens from entering. He outlined his position on Facebook from custody, commenting on reports regarding the death of an employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute.

Keys to 52 new homes handed to Dagestan flood victims
Society
Keys to 52 new homes handed to Dagestan flood victims
6 October 2026

On October 6, in the settlement of Mamedkala in Dagestan’s Derbent District, keys to 52 new homes were handed to families who had lost their housing due to spring flooding. The ceremony was attended by Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, and Fedor Shchukin, the Acting Head of the Republic.

Sixteen imprisoned female journalists from Russia and Ukraine receive Politkovskaya Award
Human rights
Sixteen imprisoned female journalists from Russia and Ukraine receive Politkovskaya Award
6 October 2026

The Anna Politkovskaya Award has this year been given to 11 Russian and five Ukrainian female journalists who are imprisoned in Russia and in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

 

According to the award’s founder, the international organisation RAW in WAR (Reach All Women in WAR), the nominations committee praised the “courage and integrity” of the laureates, who “risk their freedom and even their lives to report on the war and speak out against human rights violations, war crimes and the escalating repression of journalists, human rights defenders and anti-war activists in Russia”.

Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties clashed in the Armenian parliament
Politics
Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties clashed in the Armenian parliament
6 October 2026

A scuffle broke out in the National Assembly of Armenia on October 6 between MPs from the ruling "Civil Contract" party and the opposition "Strong Armenia" bloc.