After Azerbaijani Riots, A Return To Peaceful Village Life

On January 23, the Azerbaijani town of Ismayilli erupted into unexpected unrest. Thousands of people rallied to voice their anger at the authorities' refusal to shut down a local motel allegedly housing a brothel. Dozens were detained after rioters set fire to the motel, cars, and the governor’s residence. President Ilham Aliyev later sacked the region's governor. But since the riots died down, the town has returned to its normal state of calm. RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service correspondent Nurlan Babazadeh filed these photos from neighborhoods that ordinarily would not expect a place in the media spotlight.