Challenges to Freedom of Assembly and Association in the Caspian Sea Region - Side event in UN during the Human Rights Council 56th Session

The side event addressed the restrictions imposed to the right to a peaceful assembly and association in the Caspian Sea region, mainly in the countries like Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan.

The discussion was opened by a video intervention of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly and association – Ms Gina Romero. She highlighted 3 concerning trends in the context of human rights as following:

1) growing authoritarian regimes and anti-human rights narratives

2) armed conflicts, which significantly impact the right to the freedom of assembly and association

3) spread of laws and regulations restricting legitimate work of civil society

Referring to the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan, she particularly emphasized that the “Countries with serious limitations of human rights and freedom of association can not continue to be chosen as venues and hosts of conferences associated with the UN human rights treaties”.

Mr Rauf Mirgadirov, a well-known Azerbaijani  journalist further deepened the discussion on the situation in Azerbaijan, providing that: "Political parties and non-governmental organizations are completely deprived of both internal and external sources of funding. During the past year, following the mass arrests of journalists and civil activists on charges of currency smuggling, even USAID has suspended funding for all its projects. "

Ms Rubaba Guliyeva, a wife of imprisoned Abzas media`s Director Ulvi Hasanli, highlighted Azerbaian`s continuous failure to implement decisions of the European Court of Human Rights claiming that “ By imprisoning journalists it [Azerbaijan] continues the Soviet Era tradition of “no person-no problem”.

Sofia Kyarizova, a representative of the Rights and Freedoms of Turkmenistan Citizens listed a number of alarming cases of persecution against civil society in Turkmenistan, addressing the serious challenges that women activists are facing: “Representatives of law enforcement agencies summon these women for interrogations, threatening them with imprisonment and the loss of parental rights. After being warned not to let information about women's rights violations leave Turkmenistan, one of the human rights activists was struck by a car on a pedestrian crossing.”

Maria Sinitsina-Rossen, a member of the “Future Russia – Switzerland”, revealed that in Russia “Activists and protest organizers have faced continuous harassment, surveillance, and intimidation by state authorities. This includes physical attacks and threats against family members, contributing to a climate of fear and self-censorship among activists. As of early 2024, there are 855 individuals and organizations listed as "foreign agents".

Full Video Available At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Rt-KI4QYU&t=33s