Eurasianet

The country already leads in vaccination rates in the South Caucasus. Many expect the new rules to drive a black market for fake vaccination passports.

The coronavirus inoculation program is the first in the Caucasus and Central Asia, starting out with Chinese vaccines but incorporating Russian and Western ones at later stages.

The COVID-19 vaccination experiences of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia show that if you’re a small and poor country, you need to rely on powerful friends.

A longtime gray cardinal is in trouble after violating social-distancing laws. But breaking rules is what bigwigs do in Azerbaijan.

In an unprecedented speech, Ilham Aliyev blasted the “socialist economic model” behind his country’s largest companies.

Denialism and conspiracy theories about the disease appear to be in retreat as more and more people are infected.

The coronavirus has continued to spread rapidly, and President Ilham Aliyev put the blame on residents who don’t wear masks.

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan cited the coronavirus for missing the big event, but the real reasons appear to be crises at home.

The country’s public health officials also have warned that the growing outbreak is straining the country’s health care system.

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.

The authorities have indicated some sensitivity to the public mood, announcing that they are investigating evidence of excessive use of force.

Strict stay-at-home orders did not go over well with many Azerbaijanis, leading to clashes with police officers.

The long weekend curfew is modeled after Turkey’s, as the disease is spreading rapidly following the loosening of earlier restrictions.

“The police say you can't go out the door, but no one says your husband can't beat you.” 


Skeptics say the roundup is a show meant to create the illusion of fighting corruption even as higher-level officials remain untouched.