A regional analyst and a blogger, Arzu holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey and a Master’s of Science degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her areas of interest include regional politics, conflict resolution, and new social media.
Latest posts by Arzu Geybullayeva
22 July 2016
Azerbaijan and Turkey: Caught in a Bad Bromance
Some of Azerbaijan's best schools, a university and a newspaper have been scuppered by Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fethullah Gulen's toxic political rivalry.
21 July 2016
Turkey Adds Wikileaks to a Long List of Blocked Websites
Blocking information is second nature to Turkey's government. But Turkish netizens are still questioning the value of the leak itself.
17 July 2016
Azerbaijani Women Watch #IAmNotAfraidToSpeak from the Sidelines
"I do not believe there is one woman [in Azerbaijan] who has not faced harassment or violence."
16 July 2016
Following Reported Overthrow Attempt Turkish Netizens Ask, ‘Coup or Theatre?’
"Don't buy it. Perfectly plausible story is slowly emerging. You can't easily stage this stuff, with 300 livestreams."
23 June 2016
‘Well Done Baku'?: Azerbaijan's F1 Forray Leaves Inequality Firmly in the Driving Seat
"While taxpayers ultimately foot the bill for this, two privileged citizens have been massively enriched by the games: the president’s daughters."
21 June 2016
Erdogan's New Turkey Finds Forgiveness for Some, Tear Gas for Others
"Riot police have used more rounds of teargas and [smoke] grenades to counter reconvening protesters in #Firuzağa #Istanbul."
2 June 2016
Azerbaijan: Khadija Free, But Other Political Prisoners Await Their Turn
"Our political system is a model of the European political system," claimed the Twitter feed of Azerbaijan's strongman President Ilham Aliyev.
31 May 2016
Turkey's President and the ‘Treason’ of Family Planning
He is done with abortion, now its birth control and population planning. Next in line: how many times a night we can have sex, God willing.
24 April 2016
Azerbaijan's Hunger Games: Independent Media on the Brink
"We declare yet again, by opening this absurd criminal investigation the government of Azerbaijan is creating barriers to freedom of speech, and journalism activity."
4 April 2016
Does Azerbaijan's Ruling Family Feature in the #PanamaPapers Leak? Of Course it Does!
"Registration records list [President Ilham Aliyev's sister] at an address in a West London neighborhood where average home prices touch $9 million."
25 March 2016
Aliyev's Toys, or the Treatment of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan
"Our hostage life is over. We are free now! I wish freedom to all our friends remaining behind bars."
24 March 2016
Everyone is Fair Game in Turkey's New War on Terror
"This is just insane!#AcademicsForPeace signee, Assistant Prof. Esra Mungan is held in solitary confinement in jail."
17 January 2016
In Oil-Rich Azerbaijan, People Protest; Government Responds With Arrests
Riot police and internal troops used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters and arrested dozens of them, including opposition leaders.
30 December 2015
Strangest Twitter Moment of 2015? Elijah Wood Wades into the Gollum-Erdogan Spat
"You shut up. I skip all the scenes you are in anyway. You can't walk properly. You can't even throw the ring properly... indecent."
7 December 2015
After a Year Behind Bars, Journalist Khadija Ismayilova of Azerbaijan is Fearless
"I am so much wealthier than all the corrupt men and women I have written about. Because I have values for which I am ready to even sacrifice my life."
16 November 2015
The Refugees Stopping at Vienna's Train Station of Hope
A look back at the scenes at Vienna's central train station in September, two months before the deadly violence from which many refugees are fleeing would touch Beirut and Paris.
2 November 2015
Another Pretend Election Yields Predictable Results in Azerbaijan
Sunday's election in Azerbaijan was not really an election and the new parliament is not really a parliament, but the ruling family cares little for such niceties.
30 July 2015
Azerbaijan's Political Prisoners, the State and its Secret Society
What is with the rows of passive spectators literally taking up space at the trials of the country's most high-profile political prisoners?
13 May 2015
Human Rights Abuses in Azerbaijan: We Can’t Stay On The Sidelines Anymore
Arzu Geybullayeva calls on Western leaders to speak out on political prisoners in Azerbaijan as the country prepares to host the European Games.
6 April 2015
Turkey Blocks Twitter, YouTube, Scores of Websites After Prosecutor’s Killing
After photos of public prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz with a gun pointed to his head began circulating on Twitter, hundreds of news sites and social networks were blocked.
