Circumstances that make it impossible to live in Azerbaijan

The report mentions arrests and violations of human rights

The US State Department released its annual report on the state of human rights in the world in 2023.

The report also includes a section on Azerbaijan. The operation carried out by Azerbaijan in Karabakh in September of last year, the Armenian population leaving the region as a result of it, the arrest of journalists and activists, the ill-treatment of prisoners in prisons, the stifling of press freedom, and election fraud were criticized here.

Full control over Karabakh

Before Azerbaijan took full control of Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19-20, the Lachin corridor was closed. Only intermittent humanitarian crossings were allowed.

Azerbaijan then took full control of the region, and between September 24 and October 1, more than 100,000 Nagorno-Karabakh residents—virtually all of the region’s ethnic Armenians—left the area.

Those accused of links with Iran

The report also noted that during the year, authorities arrested an unprecedented number of Shia Muslims who worshiped outside government-approved institutions for alleged ties to Iran.

“Although these arrests have been characterized as targeting Iran’s spy networks, the vast majority of known charges have been related to drug-related crimes.”

Human rights violations

The authors of the report note that during the year in Azerbaijan, facts related to torture and cruel treatment, inhumane or degrading actions by security forces personnel were recorded. Also, prison conditions are harsh and life-threatening. Unreasonable detention; There are also serious problems related to the independence of the judiciary:

“There is a problem of political prisoners, transnational repressions against people who voice anti-government opinions outside the country. Inviolability of private life is arbitrarily or unlawfully interfered with. The civilian population is deliberately deprived of the things they need, their access to humanitarian aid is prevented. Freedom of expression and media are severely restricted. Journalists and political activists were unjustly imprisoned. The internet is not free in this country, peaceful assembly is impossible. It is impossible for citizens to change their power peacefully through free and fair elections.”

The report also states that there is serious government corruption in Azerbaijan. Local and international human rights organizations have been severely restricted by the government. Widespread cases of gender-based violence are reported. At the same time, violent crimes targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex individuals are occurring.

Investigation of deaths

The report states that there are reports that the Azerbaijani government or its agents committed arbitrary or illegal killings during the year.

As an example, the fact of detention and beating of Subhan Agayev, who died on February 28 in Penitentiary No. 5 in Salyan, is cited.

His family reportedly released photos of his dead body with marks and open wounds on his ankles. Authorities said he died of acute heart failure. The prosecutor investigated his death in response to the family’s allegations. After the investigation, the court fined the assistant warden 2,000 manats (US$1,180), but no criminal charges were filed.

Those who disappeared

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 4,876 Azerbaijanis and Armenians have been missing since the 1990s.

According to the information provided by the State Committee on Captive and Missing Citizens at the end of the year, there are 3,890 Azerbaijani citizens registered as missing as a result of the battles in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the 1990s, including 6 Azerbaijani servicemen who went missing in the 2020 battles.

Inhuman relationships

The report states that although Azerbaijan’s Constitution and Code of Criminal Procedure prohibit such practices, there are numerous credible allegations of torture and other abuses in the country.

Most ill-treatment occurs while detainees are in police custody, with authorities reportedly using abusive methods to coerce confessions. According to information, the authorities deprive prisoners of meeting with their families and lawyers, and limit their timely access to independent medical care.

Human rights defenders have said that guards sometimes punish prisoners by beating them or placing them in solitary confinement.

Prison and detention facilities

The report says that prisons are overcrowded. The lack of normal nutrition, heating and ventilation system lowers the quality of life. Moreover, there is poor medical care and lack of sewage system.

Prisoners have complained about the inhumane conditions in the crowded basements of local courts where they are kept while awaiting trial.

Arrest procedures and treatment of prisoners

Local laws require that persons arrested or accused of committing a crime be given due process, including prompt notification of their rights and the reason for their detention, and the provision of a lawyer.

“Due process was not followed in all cases considered politically motivated, and the accused were often arrested on false criminal charges. By law, prisoners must appear before a judge within 48 hours of their arrest. The judge can either issue a decision on the detention of the arrested person or house arrest, or he can release the arrested person. Authorities sometimes detained individuals for more than 48 hours without a warrant. The initial 48-hour detention period can be extended up to 96 hours in extenuating circumstances. the report states.

Mass arrests in the first 10 months of the year

The authors of the report note that the government made mass arrests in the first 10 months of the year.

On July 24, economist Gubad Ibadoglu was arrested on charges of counterfeiting money, which is considered to be fake currency, for his critical speeches about corruption in the country.

On May 21, the Baku court sentenced Zamin Salayev, the district official of the opposition Party of People’s Party of Ukraine, to 4 years in prison on the charge of “hooliganism with a weapon”.

Courtroom observers reported that the trial was rife with evidentiary irregularities, including that independent witnesses were prevented from testifying.

Political prisoners

The NGO coalition said there were approximately 254 political prisoners as of December 1.

Political prisoners include academics and anti-corruption defenders, democracy and human rights activists, journalists and bloggers, opposition political figures, religious people and activists, and people detained in connection with the Tartar case.

Freedom of the press

In Azerbaijan, the law provides for freedom of expression, but the government usually violates these rights. It also limited freedom of expression and media independence. Journalists, editors and independent bloggers have been threatened, sometimes beaten and arrested.

In June, after an environmental protest in Soyudlu village of Gadabay, the police arrested AbzasMedia reporter Nargiz Absalamova, Voice of America reporter Nigar Mubariz and independent reporter Elsever Muradzade. The police did not allow them to enter the village.

Internet freedom

During the year, international news websites and independent websites critical of the government were blocked. Many of them have been blocked for several years. For example, the website of “Radio Liberty”, “Voice of America”.

Also Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), “Azadlig” newspaper, “Toplum TV”, “Bastainfo”, “Criminal”, “Top Xeber”, “Khural”, “Az24saat”, “Anakhaber”,

Local media, including “Gununsesi”, “Argument.az”, and Germany-based media outlet Meydan TV have been blocked by the authorities. The government blocked the social media application “TikTok” from September 19 to October 31.

Activists claim that the authorities have also carried out frequent cyber attacks.

domestic violence

The report states that the government’s superficial treatment of domestic violence has resulted in death over time.

For example, on December 6, the UN resident coordinator said that one out of every three women or girls in the country is subjected to violence.

But the law created a framework for investigating domestic violence complaints.

Violence against children

The report states that although Azerbaijan’s laws prohibit sexual violence against children, child labor and other abuses against children still occur in the country. There is also the problem of early marriage.

Officials are not punished, NGOs are oppressed

The report also states that the government of Azerbaijan does not punish officials who commit human rights violations. At the same time, in 2020 and 2022, there was no report on the investigation of the incidents allegedly committed by the Azerbaijani army.

The document emphasizes that the laws have also limited the activities of NGOs in the country.

The authorities opened criminal cases on the activities of NGOs using the laws. In those cases, it was emphasized that very few NGOs can operate in such conditions.

According to the report, the laws governing the receipt of grants by NGOs in Azerbaijan are written in such a way that they actually make it impossible.

Laws empower the Ministry of Justice to monitor the activities of NGOs.

According to the report, severe conditions are imposed on foreign NGOs that want to open a branch in Azerbaijan, and they are required to demonstrate that they will support the “national and cultural values ​​of the people of Azerbaijan” and that they will not participate in religious and political propaganda.

The corruption part

The anti-corruption section of the report states that although the Azerbaijani government has made some progress on “low-level” corruption, corruption continues with high-level officials.

“Criminal cases against some high-ranking officials related to corruption remain under investigation. The government of Azerbaijan has not yet commented on them.”

Azerbaijani officials often state in their speeches that there is no corruption in the country, and that freedom of speech and expression is not interfered with.

The country’s officials usually consider the reports of international organizations biased and say that no one is punished for their profession, freedom of speech and expression.