Free media doesn’t vanish overnight. It’s worn down by financial pressure, smear campaigns, and repressive laws. If just 3% of readers subscribe, OC Media can survive and thrive. 🔴Value our journalism? Become a member. oc-media.org/membership/

⭕ Opinion | By imprisoning Abzas Media, Azerbaijan has turned its prisons into newsrooms oc-media.org/opinion-by-impr…

I highly encourage anyone following #Caucasus to get a membership at @OCMediaorg if for no other reason than to get their Caucasus Daily Brief newsletter, which is a fantastic detailed round up of news in the region (i pay like 5 bucks a month for this)

Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, faces up to 7 years in jail. Her health condition is concerning, she is losing her eye sight, she hardly eats, while prison refuses to conduct medical tests for her. Meanwhile Batumelebi is struggling, yesterday they put up an ad for selling their office in Batumi, which was devastating news for me to read. Consider supporting them here or help spread the word!. gofundme.com/f/help-free-geo…

🇦🇿 On Monday, the Azerbaijani Parliament approved new restrictive changes to its media law, fining print media outlets and restricting their work should they fail to register their organisations. Read more 👇 oc-media.org/azerbaijan-intr…

‘I am often asked by those outside 🇬🇪 #Georgia, “What can I do now to help?” It’s too late, I think. […] But we can still spread the word about the situation in my country’: @mari_nikuradze, from @OCMediaorg voxeurop.eu/en/georgias-pres…

The EU has called Azerbaijan’s jailing of Abzas Media’s team a 'worrying development,' while international rights groups reacted with outrage — Amnesty International criticised the EU for prioritising gas deals over human rights. oc-media.org/eu-says-impriso…

The Baku Grave Crimes Court has sentenced Azerbaijani researcher, peace activist, and OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov to 15 years in prison on charges of treason. ➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/azerbaijani-res…

Researcher and OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov has attempted to take his own life in prison, after prosecutors demanded he be sentenced to 16 years on charges of treason. ➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/azerbaijani-res…

Journalists of @AbzasMedia were sentenced to 50 years & 6 months in prison. • Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Hafiz Babalı- 9 years each • Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova- 8 years each • Mahammad Kekalov- 7,6 years • Farid Mehralizada, journalist of @RFERL- 9 years

How #Azerbaijan turned into a graveyard for independent #journalism. The total number of detained media workers reached to 28 in 18 months, @OCCRP writes. They include managerial staff from media outlets and senior figures from two journalism schools. occrp.org/en/feature/the-dea…

📌 Explainer: The 16 legislative changes that have shaped Georgia’s authoritarian slide oc-media.org/explainer-the-1…

The prosecution in the case against Azerbaijani independent news outlet Abzas Media has demanded the detained journalists be handed prison sentences ranging from 11 to 12 years on charges of smuggling foreign currency as a group and money laundering. oc-media.org/azerbaijani-pro…

Georgia’s new foreign agent law, FARA, means that any or all of us at OC Media could face fines or imprisonment for doing our jobs. 🛡️ You can support our work and help us speak truth to power - become an OC Media member today: oc-media.org/membership/?utm…

Azerbaijan has detained two independent journalists, Ulviyya Guliyeva (Ali) and Ahmad Mammadli, a civil rights activist-turned-journalist. Both journalists were reportedly assaulted by the police during their arrests. oc-media.org/two-more-azerba…

🗞 Editorial: EU–Azerbaijan relations are a blueprint for authoritarians oc-media.org/editorial-eu-az…

Important read from our North Caucasus correspondent for this week's OC Insider: "Everything that happens in Chechnya tends to become ‘normal’ in other parts of Russia later. The practice of filming public apologies started there. Chechnya was also the first place where queer people were publicly condemned. So it’s not far-fetched to imagine that one day corpses of ‘enemies’ of Russia will be displayed on the Red Square. And likely, the first among them will be those who ‘discredit’ the army or leave comments on social media." Full text: oc-media.org/chechnya-revert…

If you or someone you know has been turned away at the Georgian border (likely due to participation in anti-government protests or for making critical public statements) and wish to be featured in an @OCMediaorg article, please contact me at alexandra.kuenning@oc-media.org

REVEALED: Russia's use of non-existing journalists/experts in francophone Africa as part of an influence campaign. In 'Africa's Ghost Reporters', we reveal a campaign that has impacted over a dozen francophone countries, with more than 200 articles published in local media. 🧵

In our final podcast episode before pausing due to lack of funds, OC Media’s @mari_nikuradze and @dkcagara break down how the Trump/Musk cuts have impacted us — and what we’re doing to survive in a changing world. 🎧Listen to the full episode👇 oc-media.org/podcast-can-oc-…