BBC: Azerbaijani social media users take to memes and cartoons to protest against authorities

People in Azerbaijan have taken to social media to express their anger at the government ahead of the first European Games, which will be held in the capital, Baku, in June. BBC has compiled into one video the memes and cartoons the social media users posted on their pages to mock at and protest against the authorities.  

Many Facebook users in the country, which has no independent mainstream media, changed their profile pictures to show a black ribbon after 15 people were killed in a fire apparently caused by flammable panelling used to give buildings a facelift ahead of the games, according to BBC.

Cartoons have been posted on popular opposition-minded Facebook pages Meydan TV and Etiraz ("Protest" in Azerbaijani) mocking President Ilham Aliyev, with one depicting him setting a baby on fire - a reference to the death of several children in the blaze, BBC writes.

“Facebook users are also using cartoons to express frustration at the country's recent economic downturn, and to lament the wider population's perceived reluctance to rise up against the current government,” BBC writes.

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