Azerbaijan - January 2025
Authorities crack down on protesters in southern village
Protests broke out in the southern Azerbaijani village of Yalavaj on 19 January after a speeding police car swerved to avoid another vehicle and hit four children walking on the sidewalk, killing three. Authorities responded by locking down the city with internal troops, detaining over 100 people, shutting off the internet and mobile services in the area, and reportedly torturing those who took part in the protest or posted comments critical of the police on social media. A total of 14 people were arrested and sentenced to three months imprisonment on charges of disorderly conduct. The Ministry of Internal Affairs published a manipulated dashcam video of the accident to hide that police were speeding and were responsible for the accident, which also showed the other vehicle making a routine turn. No police have been punished.
