Azerbaijan’s government turns on its critics at home
The war with Armenia has ended in victory, so the regime needs another target
Bahruz Samadov, a young Azerbaijani academic and writer, was arrested on August 21st. He has since been charged with treason, reportedly because he had written critical pieces about the country’s conflict with Armenia. His arrest was quickly followed by that of another peace activist, Samad Shikhi. These are the latest markers in a harsh and growing crackdown on the few remaining independent voices in the country.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “The new enemy”
From the August 31st 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Europe
Can the good ship Europe weather the Trumpnado?
Tossed by political storms, the continent must dodge a new threat
Spain’s proposed house tax on foreigners will not fix its shortage
Pedro Sánchez will need the opposition’s help to increase supply
A French-sponsored Ukrainian army brigade has been badly botched
The scandal reveals serious weaknesses in Ukraine’s military command
A TV dramatisation of Mussolini’s life inflames Italy
With Giorgia Meloni in power, the fascist past is more relevant than ever
France’s new prime minister is trying to court the left
François Bayrou gambles with Emmanuel Macron’s economic legacy
How the AfD got its swagger back
Germany’s hard-right party is gaining support even as it radicalises