Azerbaijan must comply with UPR recommendations - "Human Rights House Foundation"
On 25 March, the human rights organisation "Human Rights House Foundation" issued a statement on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan following the adoption of the country's Universal Periodic Report (UPR) at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
"Since the November review of Azerbaijan just a few months ago, the situation in Azerbaijan has deteriorated dramatically, including as a result of numerous politically motivated detentions and allegations against journalists and human rights defenders," the document reads.
This is of particular concern as Azerbaijan prepares to host the UN Climate Change Conference in November 2024. Azerbaijan should provide concrete guarantees that international civil society visiting Baku in November, as well as local civil society, will be able to participate freely in COP29, reads a statement.
Recall that the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has surpassed 230 since the recent crackdown. One of the most prominent prisoners, scientist and politician Gubad Ibadoglu, is denied a vital medical care. "We call on Azerbaijan to release Dr. Gubad and all other political prisoners," states the "Human Rights House Foundation".
It should be remembered that Azerbaijan's previous UPR commitments to freedom of assembly, association and expression of opinions have not led to any improvement in the situation.
Azerbaijan should remove the need for prior authorisation for assemblies, and train law enforcement officials to observe the principle of assemblies.
"We call on Azerbaijan to follow the UPR's recommendations calling for the protection of freedom of expression, abandoning harassment of media outlets and journalists, releasing those unjustly detained, and review its legislation.
Azerbaijan should enact reforms that reflect the UPR recommendations, ensuring that all citizens can enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms," the statement said.
Politics
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Elvin Zeynalov, a religious activist living in the village of Mashtaga, was detained on January 31 around noon by individuals in plain clothes outside a store near his home. According to his relatives, later in the evening, Zeynalov was brought back home by people in black clothing, who conducted a search. They took Zeynalov's pants from the wardrobe, put marijuana in the pocket, then "seized" the drugs, filmed the video, and then took the activist away again.
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Aide to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev is on a visit to Iran, where he met with Adviser to the President of the Islamic Republic Mehdi Sanayi.
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On January 31, the trial of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu continued at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, where the examination of documents resumed. Yagublu pointed out the falsification of the search protocols related to the search at his home. He drew attention to the fact that the protocol stated that on December 14, 2023, at 16:00, the investigator completed the questioning of the "victim" and decided to conduct a search.
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During the winter session of PACE at the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg, a "parallel event" was held on January 30 dedicated to the "alarming human rights crisis in Azerbaijan." The hearings were organized by the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) and PACE member, co-chair of the Group of Unified European Left (Group of the Unified European), Spanish parliamentarian Laura Castel Fort.
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