High-profile COVID wedding highlights Azerbaijani political schism A longtime gray cardinal is in trouble after violating social-distancing laws. But breaking rules is what bigwigs do in Azerbaijan. Aug 26, 2020
Ukraine’s census attempt crashes and burns yet again Independent Ukraine has held only one census, almost 20 years ago. Mariya Chukhnova Aug 12, 2020
Azerbaijani president slams State Oil Company, announces privatization In an unprecedented speech, Ilham Aliyev blasted the “socialist economic model” behind his country’s largest companies. Aug 9, 2020
COVID-19 reality starts to hit home for Azerbaijanis Denialism and conspiracy theories about the disease appear to be in retreat as more and more people are infected. Jul 8, 2020
Azerbaijan faces prospect of COVID doctor shortage The coronavirus has continued to spread rapidly, and President Ilham Aliyev put the blame on residents who don’t wear masks. Jun 29, 2020
Pashinyan, Aliyev bow out of Moscow parade The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan cited the coronavirus for missing the big event, but the real reasons appear to be crises at home. Joshua Kucera Jun 24, 2020
Azerbaijan re-introduces electronic permits to restrict movement as COVID spread worsens The country’s public health officials also have warned that the growing outbreak is straining the country’s health care system. Jun 23, 2020
Hundreds of Azerbaijanis languish on Russian border The labor migrants are trying to return home after losing their jobs in the coronavirus pandemic. Tensions are rising, and a protest on the border has been violently broken up by Russian police. Jun 16, 2020
Azerbaijan imposes second weekend lockdown amid anti-police outrage The authorities have indicated some sensitivity to the public mood, announcing that they are investigating evidence of excessive use of force. Jun 12, 2020
Azerbaijanis rebel against strict weekend lockdown Strict stay-at-home orders did not go over well with many Azerbaijanis, leading to clashes with police officers. Joshua Kucera Jun 8, 2020
Amid renewed COVID-19 outbreak, Azerbaijan introduces strict lockdown The long weekend curfew is modeled after Turkey’s, as the disease is spreading rapidly following the loosening of earlier restrictions. Joshua Kucera Jun 4, 2020
Eurovision shines a light into Caucasus identity politics This year, Azerbaijan embraces both the Orient and bisexuality, while Georgia complains about the West. Joshua Kucera May 14, 2020
Azerbaijani villagers fear hunger, poverty more than COVID “The police say you can't go out the door, but no one says your husband can't beat you.” Meltem Talibzade May 7, 2020
Several local officials arrested in Azerbaijan for COVID corruption Skeptics say the roundup is a show meant to create the illusion of fighting corruption even as higher-level officials remain untouched. Joshua Kucera May 5, 2020
Azerbaijanis in lockdown send love letters to their president The trend is evocative of Azerbaijan’s Soviet past, when young pioneers wrote precocious letters to the editor about the nation’s astute leaders. Giorgi Lomsadze Apr 30, 2020