This is a collection of discussions on the deletion of articles related to Azerbaijan. It is one of many deletion lists coordinated by WikiProject Deletion sorting. Anyone can help maintain the list on this page.

Adding a new AfD discussion

Adding an AfD to this page does not add it to the main page at WP:AFD. Similarly, removing an AfD from this page does not remove it from the main page at WP:AFD. If you want to nominate an article for deletion, go through the process on that page before adding it to this page. To add a discussion to this page, follow these steps:

1. and add {{Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/PageName}} to the top of the list. Replace "PageName" with the relevant article name, i.e. the one on the existing AFD discussion. Also, indicate the title of the article in the edit summary as it is particularly helpful to add a link to the article in the edit summary. When you save the page, the discussion will automatically appear.
2. You should also tag the AfD by adding {{subst:delsort|Azerbaijan|~~~~}} to it, which will inform editors that it has been listed here. You may place this tag above or below the nomination statement or at the end of the discussion thread.

There are a few scripts and tools that can make this easier.

Removing a closed AfD discussion

Closed AfD discussions are automatically removed by a bot.

Other types of discussions

You can also add and remove other discussions (prod, CfD, TfD etc.) related to Azerbaijan. For the other XfD's, the process is the same as AfD (except {{Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/PageName}} is used for MFD and {{transclude xfd}} for the rest). For PRODs, adding a link with {{prodded}} will suffice.

Further information

For further information see Wikipedia's deletion policy and WP:AfD for general information about Articles for Deletion, including a list of article deletions sorted by day of nomination.

This list is also part of the larger list of deletion debates related to Asia.

Archived discussions (starting from September 2007) may be found at:

• WikiProject Deletion sorting/Azerbaijan/archive

Operation Qazançı (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View AfD | edits since nomination)

(Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL)

Does not seem to meet WP:NEVENT. Could be summarized and merged to Qazançı, Agdam and sourced there if possible, then redirected. Cremastra (talk) 14:43, 8 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

• Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: History, Military, and Azerbaijan. Cremastra (talk) 14:43, 8 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
• Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: Events and Armenia. Spiderone^{(Talk to Spider)} 15:39, 8 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.
Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 09:03, 15 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nargiz Absalamova (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View AfD | edits since nomination)

(Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL)

Fails WP:N and WP:1E. The person has not been the subject of any reliable source on her own and has not got significiant coverage in any reliable source. She herself has not been of interest to any reliable source individually. The person only has name mentions or notes about some facts related to her arrest in the sources. There is no other information available to use in the writing of a balanced biography. As you can see from the article, most of the content is facts about the arrest. Participating in an event or being one of the individuals affected by it does not make a person notable. She is simply one of the individuals listed in the context of the case. Sura Shukurlu (talk) 08:37, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hökümətin sözü ilə, gəlib burda məqalə silməyə çalışmağınız sizin özünüz üçün acınacaqlıdır. Bəlkə də, sizi inandırıblar ki, hansısa mistik informasiya müharibəsi ilə məşğul olursunuz özünüzü önəmli hiss etməyiniz üçün. Amma Nərgizin biosun bir daha oxuyun bəlkə də sizinlə yaxın-yaxın yaşda etdiklərinə baxın və bir də özünüzə baxın. Cəsarət, dünyada təqlid edilməyən yeganə şeydi))))

I strongly disagree with the assertion that Nargiz Absalamova fails Wikipedia’s notability criteria (WP:N, WP:1E). The argument that she has only been briefly mentioned in sources without significant independent coverage is misleading and inaccurate. Multiple reputable, independent sources, including international human rights organizations and well-established media outlets, have reported on Nargiz Absalamova. Her case has been documented as part of a larger crackdown on Azerbaijani civil society, demonstrating that she is not just an incidental figure but a recognized political prisoner. The idea that she is “simply one of the individuals listed in a case” ignores the fact that many notable political prisoners worldwide have been recognized in similar circumstances.

WP:1E does not apply to cases of political repression that are part of an ongoing human rights crisis. There are multiple precedents on Wikipedia where political prisoners and persecuted activists—arrested in crackdowns—have notability established through human rights reports and international coverage. If Wikipedia hosts similar biographies of other Azerbaijani political prisoners, removing this one would be inconsistent and unfair.

I also want to highlight concerning patterns in the behavior of the editor opposing this article, which may indicate a conflict of interest (COI) or agenda-driven editing. There have been frequent removals or attempts to undermine content related to Azerbaijani political prisoners, edits that systematically favor the Azerbaijani government’s narrative while dismissing reliable independent sources, and targeted efforts to delete information about human rights abuses in Azerbaijan. Wikipedia’s mission is to ensure neutrality and reliable documentation—it should not be used to erase politically inconvenient subjects at the request of authoritarian regimes.

I encourage all editors to review the reliable sources available before making broad claims about notability. If necessary, I will request an administrator review this editor’s activity for potential bias or government-aligned influence. I am also open to further expanding the article with additional sources to ensure it meets Wikipedia’s standards. It is crucial that Wikipedia remains a platform for factual, independent knowledge and does not become a tool for state propaganda or information suppression. I welcome further discussion, but I urge all editors to act in good faith and according to Wikipedia’s core principles. Kromvell 1968 (talk) 11:48, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

• Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: Women, Journalism, and Azerbaijan. Shellwood (talk) 13:46, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I also disagree with the deletion. Nargiz Absalamova is a notable Azerbaijani journalist whose work and subsequent persecution have received significant international attention, meeting Wikipedia’s notability criteria.

Professional Contributions: As a journalist with Abzas Media, one of Azerbaijan’s few independent outlets, Absalamova has played a key role in reporting on critical issues such as environmental protests and corruption. Her investigative work has provided essential insights into topics often underreported in the region.

International Recognition and Coverage: Absalamova's arrest in December 2023, widely regarded as politically motivated, has been condemned by major international organizations. Amnesty International has highlighted her detention as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Azerbaijan, and the Committee to Protect Journalists has reported on her case, emphasizing the silencing of independent media voices. Such coverage demonstrates her impact and the broader significance of her work.

Alignment with Wikipedia’s Notability Criteria: According to Wikipedia's guidelines on notability, a topic merits an article if it has received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject. Absalamova's work and the international response to her arrest have been documented by reputable organizations and news outlets, affirming her notability. WP:GNG

Furthermore, Wikipedia's notability criteria for journalists state that individuals who are main personalities at notable news sources or have received significant coverage for their work meet the standards for inclusion. Absalamova's role at Abzas Media and the international attention her situation has attracted clearly satisfy these criteria.

Recently, I have observed multiple deletion nominations targeting independent Azerbaijani journalists who have been arrested. This raises concerns about potential politically motivated attempts to remove their presence from public discourse. Wikipedia's mission is to document notable individuals and events objectively, and erasing articles on persecuted journalists undermines that goal. Maintaining Absalamova’s article ensures that Wikipedia remains a comprehensive and balanced resource. Aspectreishauntingeurope (talk) 15:16, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Are you claiming a conflict of interest (COI) here? – The Grid (talk) 18:25, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This article has been nominated for deletion on the Azerbaijani Wikipedia, and I haven’t even participated in that discussion. In that discussion, Kromvell 1968 argued in favor of keeping the article, stating that if the person in question is not notable, then why was the article approved on the enwiki? Since this user attempted to manipulate the discussion with such an argument, and because I was genuinely interested in the enwiki community’s opinion on the article’s notability, I proposed its deletion here as well. I have clearly outlined, within the framework of the guidelines, why I believe the subject of the article is not notable. Kromvell 1968 insulted me in the comment he wrote in Azerbaijani above and has openly violated the rules. I am providing a translation of his comment below for you to read:

Trying to come here and delete an article just because the government says so is honestly pathetic—for your own sake. Maybe they’ve convinced you that you’re part of some kind of mystical information war just to make you feel important. But go read Nargiz’s bio again, take a look at what she achieved at an age close to yours, and then take a look at yourself. Courage is the only thing in the world that can’t be imitated.)))

His writing style in the comment and such admiration to the person indicate that the user has an interest in the article. Moreover, this user is making baseless accusations against me simply because I nominated the article for deletion, attempting to discredit me. It is clear that he is highly interested in keeping this article. Kromvell 1968 even attacked to the user who nominated the article for deletion on the azwiki. The contributions of both users involved in this discussion is entirely focused on this article, and in my personal opinion, they are either sockpuppets (the same person) or are closely connected, indicating a serious conflict of interest. This is why I am being attacked in this manner. This is just my opinion, but I think everything is clear. Sura Shukurlu (talk) 19:04, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

In Azerbaijani Wikipedia, a user named "RəqəmsalTaleh" initiated discussions to delete articles about prominent political prisoners, systematically nominating multiple individuals for deletion. When I engaged in discussions with this user, I demonstrated—using Wikipedia’s own rules—that their arguments were factually incorrect and did not align with Wikipedia’s notability guidelines.

As a result, this user was blocked—not arbitrarily, but because they were found to have been paid to write articles on Wikipedia, violating Wikipedia’s conflict of interest (COI) policies. Despite the block, another user (who appears to be closely connected with "RəqəmsalTaleh") has now resumed this effort, nominating Nargiz Absalamova for deletion.

It is evident that this user has not conducted proper research on Absalamova’s case. Her reporting on the Soyudlu protests, as well as other critical topics, has been widely covered within Azerbaijan and internationally. Leading human rights organizations and international media outlets have recognized her work and condemned her politically motivated arrest. These sources clearly establish her notability as an independent journalist persecuted by an authoritarian government.

Given the Azerbaijani government's history of targeting Wikipedia editors and administrators who document human rights violations, I find it crucial to highlight the coordinated nature of these deletion attempts. The goal appears to be the systematic erasure of political prisoners and persecuted journalists from Wikipedia—a blatant attempt at information suppression.

I could provide extensive documentation on how similar smear campaigns have been orchestrated to manipulate public perception and suppress critical voices. Many of the sources this user considers "reliable" are themselves aligned with state-controlled narratives. However, I do not wish to engage in an extended dispute over this user’s motivations.

The objective fact remains:

Nargiz Absalamova is a widely recognized journalist in Azerbaijan.

She has received extensive international coverage from reputable sources.

She is currently jailed by the Azerbaijani government in retaliation for her reporting.

Attempts to delete this article are not based on Wikipedia’s rules but on political interests. Wikipedia should not be used as a tool for authoritarian censorship. Kromvell 1968 (talk) 20:20, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The Grid the user who created the original article on AzWiki was imprisoned on 30 January, his imprisonment was announced on 31st. These profiles then started to nominate the articles the original author created half an hour after the announcement of their imprisonment. Sura is a government troll 188.253.208.251 (talk) 11:20, 5 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

• Keep I have added more information and sources. The first source has significant coverage of Absalamova. Other sources individually have less coverage, but it adds up to WP:NBASIC. If this is not kept, it should be Merged to Abzas Media (there are many sources here that are not included in that article, which currently has many sources by Abzas Media). I note that the article Media freedom in Azerbaijan is 10 years out of date, and has no mention of these arrests. RebeccaGreen (talk) 14:02, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.
Relisting comment: Would editors, in general, stop insulting each other. This discussion is not about a country, another Wikipedia, your opinion of the subject or the articles this subject has written but about coverage of this article subject by reliable sources. A source review would be helpful and if you know of mainstream sources that have covered this journalist, her career and her situation, please bring links to them to this discussion. Remember, on the English WIkipedia, we are concerned about writing articles on notable subjects, not "righting great wrongs" for whatever political stance you personally have.
Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 06:43, 11 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

• Delete: The Amnesty International piece is about the individual... The rest deal with journalists (plural) being arrested. This in the Columbia Journalism Review [1] talks about a few that were rounded up. I don't see this person is more notable than other journalists. Could be briefly mentioned in a sentence around the COP 26 meetings, but this journalist isn't notable otherwise. Oaktree b (talk) 16:22, 11 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]