The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch 100 days before the start of the European Games demanded the release of arrested civil society activists and journalists in Azerbaijan.
"Attacks of the government on journalists, human rights defenders and activists are a challenge to the spirit and letter of the principles of the Olympic Charter on press freedom and human dignity," said the Director of HRW for Europe and Central Asia Jane Buchanan.
Human Rights Watch called on European leaders to warn Baku that in case of not releasing the arrested opposition leaders, they would not send high-level delegations to the Games.
"Olympic committees and national committees of the European countries should make it clear to Baku that it mocks the Olympic ideal and it must release prisoner activists and journalists and remove the severe restrictions on the media and freedom of speech," the statement reads.
The organization also distributed a slideshow history of arrests of human rights activists and journalists in Azerbaijan in recent years. -16D-
Politics
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Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan made an unexpected statement during a government session, emphasizing the need for a strategic deal with Azerbaijan. According to him, the future peaceful coexistence of the two countries must be guaranteed for the next century, and addressing this issue is the most crucial and fundamental task for both sides.
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A new draft agreement on financing climate programs, unveiled at the 29th session of the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP29), proposes allocating at least $1.3 trillion (€1.23 trillion) annually for climate protection measures and adaptation to the impact of climate change, according to a 34-page document released on Wednesday. The draft, developed with input from developing nations, aims to address the needs of the world's poorest countries, though several contentious issues remain unresolved, AFP reported.
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On November 13, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Afghan Taliban held talks in Baku as part of the COP29 conference. According to a report by Turan correspondent, the discussions took place behind closed doors and lasted for over an hour. No statements were made to the press following the meeting. Furthermore, conference security prevented journalists from asking questions to the meeting participants.
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Kichikhanim Khalilova, the wife of arrested public activist and first-group disabled person, Famil Khalilov, reported being followed during her time at the COP29 conference on November 13. She had been accredited in the "Green Zone" as a civil rights activist. From the moment she entered the conference area, a young man began to follow her.
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