Unknown Human Rights Month

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- The Human Rights Month-long announced by the Ombudsman in Azerbaijan ended on June 18. How was this Month-long remembered in the context of human rights?

- To be honest, I was unaware of the Ombudsman's Office holding such a Month-long. I do not think that this is due to my indifference to the activities of the Office or my obvious ignorance. It is likely that the Ombudsman's Office did not declare this campaign even in its own narrow circle or confidentially. But now they have to think, why this Month-long did not attract such special attention? What are the specific reasons for this? What remarkable events or campaigns did the Office hold within this Month-long that failed to attract public attention? Has there been a small number of events (even a webinar), opinion polls, etc. within this Month-long related to countless cases of torture, allegations of ill-treatment, illegal arrests, and harassment for freedom of expression, assembly, and association? Can they investigate allegations that political activist Niyamaddin Ahmadov was brutally tortured by the State Security Service? Can they comment on the isolation of the leader of one of the main opposition parties for more than two months, the fact that he was subjected to the information blockade and the actual house arrest? Or, the softest question, can they investigate the decisions of the European Court that have not been implemented for years and summarize their results? Of course not.

These Month-longs are reminiscent of the famous Soviet Decade-longs and Month-longs. The Soviets have collapsed all over the world but we still have its bad traditions. Where it is impossible to carry out the main work, the first task, which is beyond the real possibilities and actual authority, such bodies usually hold such Month-longs, such Decade-longs, and have content on duty.

As for how to remember this Month-long... Frankly, one does not know which more serious violations of law to choose so as not to waste extra time. The growing number of administrative and political arrests of new socio-political activists during the quarantine period continued this Month-long. The administrative outrage against young students demanding the abolition of tuition fees during the epidemic and the dissemination of meetings of the main political coalition of the country by capturing and editing through cybercrime continues; moreover, epidemics of perpetual torture and of course the tragedy of Yasamal happened.

The latest incident was a symbol of the humiliation of the rule of law in Azerbaijan, and by the way, the silence of the Ombudsman's Office on unprecedented, demonstrative police violence can be considered one of the "decorative" features of its Month-long.

- As you said, events such as quarantine arrests and the Yasamal incident happened this Month-long. Do you think the Ombudsman's response to such incidents this Month-long was adequate?

- The ombudsman cannot comment on quarantine arrests. Even if she wants to. This requires a little courage and independence, and it is not worth looking for these signs in the Ombudsman's Office. The possibility that the Ombudsman's Office may react to such arrests is far from normal. Regarding the Yasamal incident, it seems that the Office had a cowardly statement, which used a general, ambiguous statement such as "everyone must abide by the law and the violation of the law must be given only a legal assessment". So what. Then what happened, then what will happen? Has the Ombudsman's Office been able to investigate the police's degrading and violent treatment against citizens? In general, does she have the desire or the real opportunity to do so? Even the head of state, who nominated the ombudsman's candidacy and had it approved in parliament, insisted that "no police can be punished" after the brutal police violence that blacklisted the country after the 2003 presidential election, so it is not worth thinking about.

- Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva has been in this position since December last year. By the way, if we have to evaluate 6 months of her activity as an ombudsman and compare it with the activity of the previous Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova, what changes can we see?

- The Azerbaijani society recognized Sabina Aliyeva only when she was "advised" to this position. She had never worked in the field of human rights before, and she was not remembered for any of his contributions in this field. I do not see the need to evaluate her 6-month activity. Because I do not see any activity. The former ombudsman was a non-lawyer and elderly. Some spoke of the need for a young, energetic, agile commissioner. But even though Ms. Sabina formally met these requirements, nothing has changed. They feed us with false expectations and unfounded illusions.

- In general, is the Ombudsman's Office a working body in Azerbaijan? Is there any activity in the direction of what it has to do?

- You know what amazes me. I recently learned that ANAS (Azerbaijan National Academy of Science) has a large Institute of Human Rights. This institute has a modern building and numerous employees. They come and go to work every day. They are doing something there. But it is unknown what they are doing. One is amazed at the sharpness of the contrast. The disgraceful human rights situation in the country and the Institute of Human Rights, which is located in one of the most prominent parts of the city and works in a large, modern building, of which tidy stuff wears a suit and tie. Complete nonsense. The Ombudsman's Office remained a rudiment, failed to be useful and to contribute to the goal of the establishment of this body - the prevention and restoration of human rights violations, and now it is reminiscent of unnecessary, useless, and obsolete equipment. There is no difference between the presence and absence of this institution. Its mission and responsibilities are now being carried out by a small number of local human rights defenders and influential international human rights organizations. I sometimes do not go deeper, I am deeply ashamed when I look at the activities of the Ombudsman's Office in neighboring Georgia and Armenia. It is very difficult to see how far behind we are.

- What should be done for the normal functioning of the Ombudsman's Office and the protection of human rights in this country?

- My answer is not legal. Although I always have an unshakable belief that one person, one individual, can change something, even in the most authoritarian regimes, I have a hard time imagining the bravest human rights defender as an ombudsman. Without dismantling and rebuilding the political system as a whole, without returning it to its natural and legal boundaries, there can be no question of the normal and effective functioning of any body, including the Ombudsman's Office and the Ombudsman. This is a fundamental condition of respect for human rights.