Ulvi Hasanli
Ulvi Hasanli is a human rights defender and journalist, as well as the director of Abzas Media, a role he has held since 2016. He strives to expose the negative impact of corruption in society and show how it deepens power imbalances and socio-economic inequality in post-Soviet Azerbaijan. Previously, Ulvi Hasanli led numerous pro-democracy youth organisations, including Dalga, Free Youth Movement and NIDA youth movement. These organisations work to advance democratic and social change in Azerbaijan.
The space for human rights defenders (HRDs) and NGOs has been steadily shrinking in Azerbaijan. A number of legislative amendments have been adopted in recent years that restrict the work of HRDs and put their activities under strict governmental control. The roundup of the most prominent HRDs and their subsequent trials and imprisonment indicate that Azerbaijan is well on the road towards authoritarianism, seemingly adopting a Russian-style contempt of civil society.
