Earlier this week, we conducted a collaborative interview over Twitter with activist and writer Emin Milli from Azerbaijan, which recently hosted the Internet Governance Forum.  We wanted to get his thoughts on the impact of the IGF for freedom of expression, the implications of it being held in his country, and his thoughts on the future of digital activism in Azerbaijan and other closed societies.  Here are some of the highlights:

@eminmilli Q1: What were your thoughts when you first heard #IGF12 would be held in Azerbaijan? #InsideIGFAYM

@aym I was glad. All IGFs should be held only in authoritarian countries. It creates global platform for local activists. #insideigf #igf12Emin Milli

@katypearce Best thing about IGF was to see how cyberdissidents used unique global platform to adress real problems on the ground #insideigfEmin Milli

Milli had written an open letter to his president on the eve of the conference, urging President Aliyev to take seriously the calls for reform and openness.  The impact of his letter and the conference remains to be seen, but Milli is pleased with the platform provided by the event for discussion of the situation in Azerbaijan and elsewhere.

@aym @presidentaz decided not to address #IGF12 and I still have no answer to my letter from Mr. President. I am still waiting. #insideigfEmin Milli

@eminmilli Q3: MT @swdp: In addition to your letter, how did u and others use #IGF12 to call attention to human rights in Az? #InsideIGFAYM

@aym @swdp One of the best examples was report by @IRFS_Azerbaijan and you can read it here: http://expressiononline.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IRFS-REPORT.pdf #insideigf #igf12Emin Milli

@aym @swdp Gave extensive interview to ARTE documentary on struggle for freedom on internet. Next in the list was @daily_chomsky #insideigfEmin Milli

@aym @swdp My letter was published in major Polish, British, German, Azeri and French media platforms. #insideIGF #IGF12Emin Milli

@EminMilli Q4: Previous IGFs were held in Tunisia/Egypt. Du think #IGF12 could inspire similar increase in activism in Az? #InsideIGFAYM

@aym IGF definetly inspired European Institutions to take stronger stand for freedom in #Azerbaijan: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-853_en.htm?locale=en #insideIGF #igf12Emin Milli

@aym I would not exaggerate IGF12 influence on more activism, but it is one big opportunity to reach out to global audience. #insideigfEmin Milli

So shining a bright light on restrictive regimes by holding a conference of this sort there does have potential virtues, but there are obstacles, as well.  We've heard reports of censorship and surveillance of government and civil society groups during their time in Baku.

@EminMilli Q5: MT @nighatdad EU and others reported hacking & censorship at #IGF12, what was environment like for civil society? #InsideIGFAYM

@aym Amazing that VicePresident of EU Commission @NeelieKroesEU wrote on Azerbaijan in this context: http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/malala-day-power-internet/ #insideigf #igf12Emin Milli

@aym @nighatdad True,EUofficials reported that their computers were hacked at IGF http://www.zdnet.com/eu-officials-hacked-at-azerbaijan-internet-governance-forum-7000007093/ or http://phys.org/news/2012-11-eu-hacked-web-conference.html#nwlt #insideIGFEmin Milli

Azerbaijan's has taken a unique approach to censorship, as Emin knows well, having been sentenced to two years in prison for his dissent in 2009.

@eminmilli Q6: a follow up to Q5 via RT@rebecca_vincent: Do u expect retaliation against activists for #IGF12 & pre-IGF actions? #InsideIGFAYM

@aym @nighatdad Excellent piece on environment for civil society at #IGF12 was written by @rebecca_vincent - http://fpc.org.uk/articles/567 #insideigfEmin Milli

@aym @rebecca_vincent They never punish everyone at once. They choose only some to teach a lesson to many others who watch. #insideIGFEmin Milli

Milli is certainly thinking big.  A final highlight we'll mention here is one of his ideas for bringing more dissent into the popular discussion in his country, which has very limited internet use nationwide, limited voices in the media, and a heavy influence coming in from Iranian media outlets.

@EminMilli Q8: What is the next step for free expression advocates in #Azerbaijan? What tactics do u expect to use? #InsideIGFAYM

@aym We must try to create our own independent satellite/onlineTV for independent democratic voices abroad.That is the way to go. #insideIGFEmin Milli

Follow the entire conversation at #InsideIGF, follow Emin Milli @eminmilli, and follow Movements.org @AYM.  We hope to continue working with activists like Milli, and we'll be back on Twitter to chat with other activists very soon.

@aym Thanks a lot! It was my pleasure to have with you my first chat interview ever on twitter. #insideIGF #IGF12 #AzerbaijanEmin Milli

@aym And yes, remember that we are study case for Autocracy 2.0. Make a case for it in global media/academia.Ready to contribute! #insideIGFEmin Milli