A panel of Azerbaijani judges abruptly halted a trial in Baku on Friday after a detained journalist began testifying about the offshore wealth of President Ilham Aliyev's family.

The Baku Court of Appeal has upheld a six-year prison sentence against journalist and public activist Ahmad Mammadli, rejecting an appeal to overturn his conviction. Judge Ali Mammadov presided over the panel that issued the decision on May 14.

Two high-profile political prisoners in Azerbaijan, economist Fazil Qasimov and investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, have launched a joint hunger strike from Penal Facility No. 2. The protest was timed to coincide with the opening of the United Nations’ 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in the Azerbaijani capital, according to statements released by their families.

Today, 17 May, #Baku hosts the opening of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (#WUF13 / @WUF_UNHabitat ), the United Nations' flagship global conference on urbanization. The forum is expected to bring together around 40,000 participants from 182 countries and to be covered by some 1,000 accredited journalists. Its theme reads like a promise: "Housing the world: safe and resilient cities and communities." On the agenda are the global housing crisis, inclusivity, a reliab

US Senate urges Azerbaijan to release imprisoned journalists like Sevinc Vaqifqizi and Farid Mehralizade. Highlighting press freedom concerns and harsh 9-year sentences, the resolution calls for urgent action to protect democratic values today.

Sevinc Vaqifqizi, the editor-in-chief of Abzas Media has been named to the "10 Most Urgent" list for the second time. This list is published by the One Free Press Coalition on World Press Freedom Day. It highlights journalists globally who are facing legal problems and imprisonment for their work.