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“So long as President Ilham Aliyev keeps saying there are no political prisoners and no limitations on freedom of speech in Azerbaijan - conjuring the illusion of a democratic country - little is going to change in this country,” reads the article of Arzu Geybullayeva, a specialist in human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan, posted on the website of the TV channel “Al Jazeera.”

She notes that while global media is focused on debating the limitations on free speech in France following the attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, it is worth remembering that France is not the only country whose media professionals are targeted.

“For years, journalists in Azerbaijan have suffered harsh penalties for defending their freedom of speech - from prison sentences to interrogation and the confiscation of broadcasting equipment,” Geybullayeva writes, turning to the topic of the police raid on the RFE/RL Baku office on 26 December, and its being seales shut. That incident came as a part of the ongoing criminal investigation against foreign-funded entities in Azerbaijan.

It is noted in the article, that similar measures were taken against Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), the Media Rights Institute, and International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), with IREX leaving the country shortly after, and the director of IRFS, Emin Huseynov, still remaining in hiding.

The author reminds that that was not the first time the Azerbaijani service of RFE/RL was targeted by the authorities. In 2009, its FM broadcast was shut down, with BBC radio service and Voice of America following suit. For years, the Azerbaijani police harassed the radio's reporters, often confiscating or breaking their equipment or detaining them for interrogation.

On December 5 RFE/RL investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova was detained with the accusation of "incitement to suicide" and still remains in jail - even though her accuser, Tural Mustafayev, has withdrawn his complaint. On December 30, the Baku Court of Appeal dismissed Ismayilova's appeal for house arrest. Prior to this charge, Ismayilova was already facing a criminal trial for posting a document on Facebook revealing the identity of an informant for Azerbaijan's intelligence services, Geybullayeva writes, adding that Ismayilova is recognised internationally for uncovering many of the hidden and illegal business dealings of the ruling Aliyev clan, and is a winner of many awards.

Geybullayeva also notes that only a day before the detention of Ismayilova and a few weeks before the shutting of “Radio Liberty” Ramiz Mehdiyev, the chief of staff of the Azerbaijani President, published an article accusing Ismayilova of treason and of spying for her foreign patrons. Noting that Ismayilova and her colleagues are spreading lies about the Azerbaijani government, he comes to conclude that it is the same as working for the foreign secret service. Siyavush Novruzov, an MP from the ruling party shares his point of view, noting that “every place that works for foreign intelligence and the Armenian lobby should be searched.”

The author stresses that the Armenian lobby is just another popular tool used by government circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan. Despite its support for Track Two diplomacy initiatives, Aliyev's regime was quick to accuse Leyla Yunus and Rauf Mirkadirov, who were engaged in public diplomacy initiatives pressing for reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, of treason and spying for Armenia.

Despite the fact, that Azerbaijan continues to maintain a steady relationship with Europe and the image of a transforming young and rich country, there is little hope for the country's positive transformation, with many of the country's prominent advocates, lawyers, and journalists in jail; independent media platforms under attack; and only a handful of international non-governmental organisations left in the country.