Azerbaijan Profile

Total Area:
86,600 sq. km

Population:
8,177,717 (July 2008 est.)
 
Ethnicity:
Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 est.)  NOTE: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

Language:
Azerbaijani (Azeri) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999)

Religion:
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)

Government Type:
Republic

Capital:
Baku (Baki, Baky)

Population Below Poverty Line:
24% (2005 est.)

Country Reports

Court Hearing for Pastor Print E-mail
Pastor Shabanov 

 Pastor Hamid Shabanov
and the prison where he is being held

On June 20, Pastor Hamid Shabanov was arrested for possession of an illegal weapon -- a gun that Shabanov's family insists was planted by police (read the story). According to VOMC sources, in a July 22 hearing Shabanov's lawyer informed the court that documents were being withheld from him, thus hindering his defense. In response the judge ordered a recess until July 28.

Continue to pray that the truth behind these charges will be revealed and that Pastor Shabanov will be released.

To read more on the persecution of Christians in Azerbaijan, go to the Azerbaijan Country Report.

 
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