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
12 October 2019
Arts festival caught in the crosshairs of Azerbaijan's ‘national mentality’
One mural depicting the body of a transgender person drew so much attention that it was painted over once the festival ended — in a not so artistically-friendly way.
19 September 2019
Azerbaijanis wary of new ‘morality police’
Progressive Baku residents see "morality police" as immoral, and experts say the move will ultimately be ineffective.
7 September 2019
Overnight music hit turns rappers into social justice heroes in Turkey
With over 10 million views and still trending, the song 'cannot stay silent' is making a deafening noise in Turkey and liberating the minds.
6 September 2019
How Turkey's broadcast regulator is taking over the supervision of online content
Under a new regulation, local streaming services like Netflix are required to adjust their content to the regulator's rules and guidelines.
2 September 2019
Once celebrated by Homer, Turkey's Mount Ida is losing trees and going bald
Activists and artists join forces in Turkey to fight deforestation caused by mining companies.
12 August 2019
Withheld in Turkey: How the government exploits removal requests to silence critical and independent voices
For years, Turkey has been exploiting tools offered by social media platforms to restrict illegal content in a particular jurisdiction, to silence critical voices.
9 July 2019
Azerbaijani artists win fight to save a prayer house-turned-cinema from demolition
In a city increasingly overtaken by skyscrapers, the Salaam Cinema has become a symbol of resistance.
26 April 2019
Cultural heritage and stray dogs under siege in Baku's Formula 1 rerun
"Every year, we invest in Formula 1 but not in our education system? Why?"
8 January 2019
Azerbaijanis pressure government to #FreeMehman after blogger endures 12 days on hunger strike
Young, popular and politicized, video blogger Mehman Huseynov is a classic target of the Azerbaijani government's crackdown on civil society.
20 December 2018
Nagorno Karabakh mothers’ protest puts Azerbaijan's regime on the back foot
The state made a promise to compensate families whose sacrifices are lauded in official rhetoric. Then it let them down.
20 November 2018
Welcome to the ‘New Turkey': Five years after Gezi park, protesters face new threats of arrest
What seemed like a spike in repression against civil society advocates and intellectuals may actually be the new normal.
4 July 2018
Authorities blame air conditioning as Azerbaijan plunges into darkness
"As soon as he got on the phone, all he could talk about was the heat inside the jail."
29 June 2018
Turkey looks ahead to a strongman era
The political presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now too dominant to be checked by rivals or institutions.
5 June 2018
Freedom abroad, fear at home: Azerbaijani human rights lawyer detained for 30 days
Emin Aslan had prepared multiple complaints brought before the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Azerbaijani citizens.
10 May 2018
Social media platforms are ablaze as Turks say “enough” to President Erdogan
In Turkish, "tamam" means "that's enough". And that is exactly what Turks are saying to the president.
12 April 2018
#KnowYourDictator: Political Emigres and Their Hashtags Haunt Azerbaijan's Re-elected Strongman
Having largely suffocated opposition at home, newly-elected President Ilham Aliyev is finding ways to hurt activists living abroad.
16 February 2018
‘They Fear Pens, Not Guns': Turkish Journalists Sentenced to Life in Prison
With 155 journalists serving jail time because of their work, such sentences are becoming routine for Turkey's embattled independent media community.
5 February 2018
Justice Deferred: Uproar After Turkish Court Releases, Re-Arrests Amnesty International's Taner Kilic
"The court changed its mind... Why? Who knows, no grounds provided. Devastating for the family and an affront to justice."
3 January 2018
Will We Ever See the End of Information Control in Azerbaijan?
Legal reforms restricting online speech seem to threaten everyone but the ruling elite of Azerbaijan.
26 October 2017
After 113 Days Behind Bars, #Istanbul10 Human Rights Defenders Are Released Pending Trial
“I don’t have anything to regret. I just did my work as a human rights defender,” Idil Eser told the court.
