They paint themselves as ‘victimized’ by the media, yet have strict control over all outlets and reporting on their countries. Journalists are heavily persecuted in both nations, which rank amongst the bottom in media freedom, and dissident voices will continue to be oppressed in Moscow and Baku as long as the kleptocracy remains in power. Painting themselves as ‘victimized’ by the media, yet have strict control over all outlets and reporting on their countries. Journalists are heavily persecuted in both nations, which rank amongst the bottom in media freedom, and dissident voices will continue to be oppressed in Moscow and Baku as long as the kleptocracy remains in power.