What happens in Azerbaijan stays in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has never been a beacon of democracy, but lately, it's not just tightening control – it's shutting the world out. It's the only country in Europe still keeping all its land borders closed since 2020, clinging to the long-expired excuse of COVID-19. In reality, this is just one piece of Baku's long-running playbook: tightening its grip, shutting out the world, and doubling down on dictatorial rule.
Just this month, Azerbaijan announced it would cease cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Development Programme, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Erasmus+ Program, after having kicked out USAID last summer (way before Trump) of their own accord.
Baku claims these decisions stem from the country's improved international standing and reduced reliance on foreign aid. In reality, they more clearly signal that Azerbaijan, which has long been criticised for its poor democracy and human rights records, is taking another step towards the ‘North-Korea-style' isolationist autocracy.
Azerbaijan's opposition has voiced its distress against the government's crackdown on international organisations and partnerships, warning that it will further harm the country's already fragile civil society. Isa Gambar, the leader of Azerbaijan's Musavat party, believes that Baku ”exploits global trends [the U.S's reduced global involvement] to their advantage.”
At the centre of it all is Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan's long-standing president is using this isolation to further tighten his grip on power, consolidating his rule without external scrutiny or accountability. Aliyev has ruled Azerbaijan since 2003, inheriting power from his father, Heydar Aliyev.
Under their dynasty, Azerbaijan has become one of the most autocratic regimes in Europe, outpacing the usual suspects, Belarus and Russia. The Aliyev regime has consistently rigged elections, entrenched corruption and nepotism, suppressed civil and political liberties, and, most recently, ethnically cleansed 120,000 Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region – all with little consequence or international oversight.
Now, by severing ties with global institutions and pushing Azerbaijan further into isolation, Aliyev is making sure there's no one left to challenge him. The EU has failed to respond effectively to Aliyev's erratic authoritarian and isolationist policies, continuing its cooperation with Baku, particularly due to Azerbaijan's oil riches.
With no checks, no accountability, and no external pressure, the country will keep sliding deeper into authoritarianism – where elections are a formality, dissent is silenced, and power stays firmly in the hands of one family.