Azerbaijan’s oil riches have turned its capital, Baku, into a gaudy showcase city. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesThis spring the government released more than a dozen of the most prominent political prisoners, and state media and senior officials conspicuously ceased their criticisms of the west. The political prisoners are part of this game Hilal MamedovThat view is shared by another of the released prisoners, Hilal Mamedov. “I’m afraid that … Europe’s defence of human rights is more in words than deeds,” he said. Photograph: Susan Walsh/APOne illustrative incident took place in March, when Aliyev visited Washington for the nuclear security summit, two weeks after freeing 15 of the political prisoners.

Source: The Guardian October 03, 2016 13:04 UTC