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.
A memorial plaque has been reinstalled on the house where journalist Anna Politkovskaya died, installed by activists who also brought flowers. This is the 24th attempt to restore the memorial on Lesnaya Street, which is constantly torn down.
Earlier, a far-right organization designated as terrorist claimed responsibility for the plaque's destruction. Meanwhile, the man who smashed the plaque was fined 1,000 rubles, denying any involvement and claiming the plaque "fell on its own." One of the plaques remained up for a week and a half.
Subsequently, activists painted the plaque's original text onto the house's facade. During the memorial's ninth and eleventh restorations, a plaque was also placed on the house reading: "Here in 2026, neo-Nazis destroyed Anna Politkovskaya's memorial plaque."
Novaya Gazeta columnist Anna Politkovskaya, known for her criticism of the Russian government and coverage of human rights violations in Chechnya, was murdered near her home in 2006. Although those responsible for her murder were convicted, those who ordered the crime remain unknown.