Representatives of the Council of Europe have called on Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Specifically, PACE rapporteur on political prisoners Azadeh Rojhan asserts that his prosecution is political in nature and that fundamental principles of a fair trial were violated during the proceedings.
Azerbaijani opposition activist Gulu Mehmedli harshly criticized the country's current leadership. He emphasized the rising incidence of cancer and the dire socioeconomic situation.
Relying on official data, the politician emphasized that in 2025, an average of 41 people were diagnosed with cancer in Azerbaijan every day, making the country one of the world's highest cancer rates. Mehmedli asserts that in a country with significant natural resources, the main cause of the current healthcare catastrophe is the dictatorship and authoritarian rule.
"The roots of the problem lie in poor nutrition, the almost complete lack of accessible healthcare and health insurance, poverty, monopolized supplies of low-quality medications, unemployment, and constant stress," the opposition figure noted.
He added that while the population is deprived of the basic conditions for a decent life, President Ilham Aliyev's personal fortune, according to some estimates, reaches $100–200 billion.
Memedli called on Azerbaijani society to unite, emphasizing that passivity and silence only exacerbate the existing crisis.
"Our affliction is the current regime and Ilham Aliyev. The cure is uprising, protest, and overthrow," he concluded.