Silenced by law: how Azerbaijan uses legislation to crush dissent
Despite early efforts towards civil society formation following independence, serious setbacks have been observed in Azerbaijan in recent decades. Restrictive legislation on the activities of NGOs, strict limitations on foreign donors to operate within the country, the de facto restriction of freedom of assembly, and pressure on independent media have all had a negative impact on organized and independent civic activism in the country.
September 27, 2025 -
Zumrud Pashayeva
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Hot TopicsIssue 5 2025Magazine
The development of civic society across the post-Soviet space varies significantly and is shaped by each country’s political trajectory. While countries like Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have fostered vibrant civic sectors, others, such as Belarus and the countries of Central Asia, have seen civil society remain under strict state control. In Azerbaijan civic initiatives do exist, yet they often face serious legal and institutional restrictions. In fact, if one would claim that civil society cannot monitor the authorities in Azerbaijan, but that this can happen vice versa, it would not be an exaggeration.
Civic participation in Azerbaijan began to take shape in the late 1980s when people, especially intellectuals in the capital, started organizing secretly due to fear of Soviet repression. After independence, the 1990s saw a surge in civic activity, fuelled by exposure to western democratic ideals and the emergence of a middle class. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict further catalysed mass mobilization, making civic participation a significant force in Azerbaijan’s early post-Soviet political landscape.
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