Human Rights at Risk: Azerbaijan's Crackdown on Activists Ahead of COP29

At the 57th Regular session of the Human Rights Council, which will run until October 11th, members of the Climate Observers Partnership have had the opportunity to report current human rights violations occurring worldwide. At the heart of the civil society organization agenda are socio-political and environmental considerations for the COP29, such as the promotion of respect and safeguard for human rights and inclusive climate action in Azerbaijan.

The Climate Observers Partnership members emphasized and highlighted the unprecedented government crackdown on journalists, political prisoners, activists, and human rights defenders, in the run-up to COP29. In particular, the organization called for the immediate release of the disabled human rights activist Famil Khalilov, who has been detained in the country for months on political grounds, as well as the journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, who were arrested following the crackdown on Abzas Media, an outlet that has long been under government scrutiny for its investigative and anti-corruption activities. Additionally, the members urged Azerbaijan to release the following political prisoners:

Ulvi Hasanli Sevinc Vaqifqızı, Mahammad Kekalov, Aziz Orujev, Nargiz Absalamova, Arshad, Ibrahimov, Ibrahim Humbatov, Teymur Kerimov, Hafiz Babali, Shamo Eminov, Elnara Gasimova, Habil Veliyev, Alasgar Mammadli, Mushfiq Cabbar, Ali Zeynalov, Ilkin Amrahov, Ramil Babayev, Akif Gurbanov, Ruslan Izzeti, Imran Aliyev, Bahruz Samedov, Aslan Gurbanov, Avaz Zeynalli, Elnur Shukurov, Osman Narimanoglu Rzayev, Polad Aslanov and Rashad Ramazanov

Furthermore, there was no shortage of criticism about the parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan in early September, which lacked pluralism and inclusivity, as stressed by human rights activist Emin Huseynov in a statement “The parliamentary elections for the New Azerbaijan Party, held on September 1st, 2024, were rescheduled from November due to the dissolution of parliament in June, and the main opposition party did not participate”. 

As a result, the civil society organization demanded reforms to ensure a credible global climate dialogue by Azerbaijan ahead of COP29 in Baku. Particularly, to achieve this aim, the organizations emphasized the need to follow a right-based approach, the cruciality of human rights and democracy safeguard, as well as the immediate release of all wrongfully imprisoned individuals on political grounds. By highlighting the interdependence and interconnectedness of democratic processes, the protection of human rights, and inclusive and equitable responses to climate challenges, the organizations reiterated the urgency of implementing such reforms, to ensure an effective, efficient, and most importantly, convincing climate dialogue. Furthermore, the Climate Observers Partnership members drew attention to the cruciality of addressing the ongoing climate crisis and funding related to the same, by following human rights principles and fostering public trust and engagement.

Socio-political concerns were particularly heartfelt during this 57th session of the Human Rights Council. In fact, the Climate Observers Partnership members denounced the Azerbaijani government's repeated restrictions and violations of the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, and reported the numerous politically motivated arrests in recent months. The organization reiterated the condemnation of the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders, independent journalists, and civil society groups, underlining how the current political incarcerations are aimed to restrain fundamental freedoms. 

Moreover, quoting Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - “democracy is in fact the only form of government which is consistent with human rights”- the Climate Observers Partnership members further emphasized the cruciality of recognizing democracy as the backbone of a credible climate dialogue. The entity expressed concerns about the country’s current democratic status. In order to support its positions, the members relied on the OSCE and ODHIR report published in the aftermath of the Azerbaijani parliamentary elections. During their observation mission, in fact, the two institutions reportedly found several irregularities in the election process, particularly in the vote counting and in the procedures, which were applied inconsistently. Therefore, the group stressed the possible hindrance to the integrity of the democratic nature of the process.  

As a result, the Climate Observers Partnership members condemned all the government’s repression of its citizens and dissidents, urging the international community to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its ongoing unprecedented crackdown on dissidents and to take into consideration the shrinking democratic space in the country, as well as the cruciality to safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms. Additionally, the organization called for the immediate release of individuals wrongfully incarcerated on political grounds, as to ensure a credible global climate dialogue.

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