COP29 Lead Negotiator runs away from the comments on political prisoners in Azerbaijan

Baku, November 20th, 2024 – At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, many journalists, activists, and political actors have questioned the credibility of Azerbaijan as the host country for this COP29 in the capital, Baku. Against this backdrop of doubt, confusion and concern, journalist Amy Goodman of the independent media outlet Democracy Now! had the opportunity to attend a conference last Wednesday chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev, who unfortunately refused to answer questions about the ongoing arrests in the dictatorial and kleptocratic regime of Ilham Aliyev.

The reporter first tried to break the ice by asking questions about the arrests of anti-corruption economist Gubad Ibadoghlu, who was only guilty of urging the government to be more transparent about fossil energy revenues, and climate activist Anar Mammadli, co-founder of the Climate Justice Group. In response to the questions, Foreign Minister Rafiyev replied that he would only discuss negotiations related to climate change and he reportedly refused to answer other questions related to the current crackdown on civil society in the country during the conference. As a result, Goodman, after le conference, attempted to interviewing Yalchin Rafiyev on ongoing arrests in the country, to which said he was unable to respond due to his very busy schedule and that he was in a hurry to leave for another meeting. 

The non-verbal speaks. It speaks loud and clear. It is expressive and far more explicit than one might imagine. The non-verbal speaks and it is essential to listen carefully. The silence of the Aliyev’s regime and its political-institutional apparatus regarding the ongoing crackdown against civil society in the country is symptomatic of a government sweeping its dirt under the rug, refusing to take responsibility for its atrocities and aberrations and hiding behind the current climate agenda. 

The international community's choice to grant such a corrupt and authoritarian country the honor of hosting such a crucial event as COP29 symbolizes the lack of interest among global actors in finding a concrete solution to the irreversible damage caused by climate change. 

Democracy is the fundamental pillar for a transparent and cooperative society: choosing as the host of COP29 a country that is disinterested in such principles is equivalent to declaring that climate dialogue has no value and that, as a result, human life does not matter. Therefore, ranting Azerbaijan, the opportunity to host the COP significantly undermines and erodes global climate dialogue.