Khadija Ismayilova, center, a reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, speaks to journalists after her release from prison in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2016. The Aug. 25 encounter between Ismayilova and Merkel laid bare the contrasting sides of tiny, oil-rich and strategically placed Azerbaijan. To leaders such as Merkel, Azerbaijan is a coveted friend for its vast Caspian Sea oil resources. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Azerbaijan ranks among the top countries for jailing members of the media. The Aliyev government also has disbarred many of the country’s human rights lawyers and blocked independent news websites.

Source: Washington Post September 01, 2018 18:17 UTC