Kazakhstan is tightening legal pressure on artists, comedians and satirists, using “petty hooliganism,” “incitement of hatred” and new “LGBTI propaganda” provisions to police creative work. Recent cases against a rapper, stand‑up comics, a choreographer and a satirical blogger have turned social media into an early‑warning system, as artists frame each arrest as part of a broader crackdown.
On May 6, 2025, Azerbaijan became the first-ever global sponsor of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. While projecting a modern and creative image abroad, the country intensifies censorship and repression at home. Independent artists face arrests, exile, and intimidation, revealing a stark contrast between Azerbaijan’s cultural diplomacy and the lived reality of creative voices who dare to dissent.
