In Azerbaijan, journalists and human rights defenders often face harassment and unjustified arrests

The organization compares the situation of human rights with 1980

International human rights organization “Amnesty International”State of human rights in the world 2024″ published an annual report.

The report states that the situation of human rights in the world is going back and forth in the direction of 1948. The current situation is compared to the 1980s.

In the section of Amnesty International’s report on Azerbaijan, it is stated that during the year, Azerbaijan’s blockade of the main road to the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh endangered the lives of thousands of people, and the subsequent military offensive forced the majority of ethnic Armenians to leave the area.

It is also noted that the government’s pressure on freedom of expression has intensified. Journalists, human rights defenders and activists were arrested for their actions:

“Peaceful protests have been suppressed, the work of media organizations and independent organizations has been unreasonably restricted. “Women and girls continued to face gender-based harassment and violence.”

The military incident in September

The organization recalls the military clash that took place on September 19. He says that on that day, Azerbaijan launched a major military offensive to disarm and destroy the de facto government in the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Within hours, his forces regained control of the entire area, and over a few days in September and October, almost the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh—more than 100,000 people—fled to Armenia:

“With no significant progress by Azerbaijan to ensure their right to return in safety and dignity by the end of the year, the displaced have faced economic hardship and uncertainty.”

“Amnesty International” reports that the Azerbaijani authorities have promised amnesty to those who fought for the de facto power in Nagorno-Karabakh, in addition to those who allegedly committed war crimes:

“Several ethnic Armenian leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh were arrested and accused of war crimes when they tried to leave the region and move to Armenia. In December, Azerbaijan released 32 Armenian prisoners of war after agreeing to work on a peace agreement with Armenia. The agreement also laid the groundwork for Azerbaijan to host the “COP 29″ global climate summit to be held in November 2024.”

Exploiting military victory

The report states that the Azerbaijani authorities took advantage of the military victory to further consolidate their rule and increase pressure on critics.
Also, restrictive NGO legislation continued to create obstacles, such as unjustified refusals to register and restrictions on funding for human rights groups.

“The media remains severely limited. Government critics, journalists, media representatives and human rights defenders have faced more frequent violence, harassment and arbitrary arrests. Azerbaijani human rights organizations said that the number of people arrested for political reasons doubled compared to the previous year and reached more than 230 people. A new restrictive media law passed in 2022 requires media outlets to be registered by the authorities.”

It is noted in the document that since November, information has been spread that the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan has started legal activities aimed at closing down independent media organizations whose registration was denied for unjustified reasons. Opposition activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev has been in prison since he was detained on politically motivated charges in December 2022. He stopped his hunger strike in March shortly after conversations with women, intimate photos and videos of him were leaked from his social media accounts:

“Gubad Ibadoglu, a well-known scientist and anti-corruption activist, was illegally detained by plainclothes police officers in Baku on July 23, on trumped-up charges of “religious extremism” and “acquiring or selling counterfeit money.” He was detained together with his wife (he was released shortly after) due to his initiative to create a fund intended to be financed for the benefit of Azerbaijani students with confiscated assets in accordance with the anti-corruption legislation. “Gubad Ibadoglu’s health has deteriorated due to conditions in prison and inadequate medical care.”

Arrest of journalists and activists

The authors of the report state that in September and October, more than ten people were detained on administrative charges for criticizing the government and its military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“In November and December, ahead of early presidential elections expected in February, police detained 13 people on seemingly trumped-up charges for criticizing the government. The well-known opposition politician Tofig Yagublu was arrested for allegedly forging documents. After “AbzasMedia” published news about corruption charges against the government, the director of the organization, Ulvi Hasanli, along with his colleagues, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Muhammad Kekalov, along with investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, were arrested on charges of smuggling. Along with independent journalists Teymur Karimov, Ibrahim Khumbatov, Arshad Ibrahimov, Aziz Orujov and Rufat Muradli, activists Mohyeddin Orujov and Ilhamiz Guliyev were arrested on various charges ranging from illegal construction to illegal possession of drugs and racketeering.

Also during the year, five people were arrested for anti-war posts on social media.
Nurlan Kahramanli, Emin Ibrahimov and Nemet Abbasov were accused of “disseminating harmful information” and sentenced to 30 days in prison.

The report also states that the trade union leader Afieddin Mammadov, who was allegedly arrested on false charges, is in prison.

Freedom of assembly

The organization notes that the authorities unjustly limit the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. For example, on June 20, the police violently dispersed a peaceful environmental protest held by local activists against the planned expansion of a gold mine in the village of Soyudlu, Gadabay district. Video footage shows police spraying several women with chemical irritants in their eyes and beating protesters with batons:

“About ten people were injured and 12 people were temporarily detained during and after the protest. Among them were at least three journalists who were briefly detained and beaten by the police while watching the protest, and activists who were arrested for making critical posts on social networks after the protest. According to reports, after June 22, the police restricted access to Soyudly for at least three weeks and allowed only local residents and pro-government media organizations to enter.

Gender-based violence

The report states that women continue to face various forms of gender-based violence, in addition to being targeted as objects of political revenge:

“Local women’s activists have expressed concern for the safety and security of several women whose intimate photos, videos and messages were leaked from the private accounts of jailed opposition activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev (see above, Statement and Freedom of Association). Activists have released the names, pictures and, in one case, home addresses of these women, making them targets of violence, including their own families, and alleging that the government is behind the leaks. The investigation into the alleged cybercrime was still ongoing at the end of the year.”

Usually, the Azerbaijani government calls such reports biased.

Officials constantly state in their statements that no one in the country is persecuted for their political and professional activities, as well as for exercising their freedom and rights.

They also deny the claims that there are political prisoners in the country.