Human Rights Crisis in Azerbaijan in the shadows of COP29
As Azerbaijan prepares to host COP29, the UN’s 29th Annual Climate Change Conference, the country faces growing scrutiny from the international community regarding its human rights record.
The NHC sat down with Samed Rahimli, a prominent Azerbaijani human rights lawyer, to reflect on the growing repression and systematic stifling of civil society in the country – against the backdrop of a public facing event framing Azerbaijan as host country committed to facilitating cooperation and collective action to address the environmental, social, and economic challenges posed by climate change.
NHC Advocacy Officer, Aïcha Chaghouani, in conversation with Azerbaijani human rights lawyer Samed Rahimli during the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw, October 2024.
Azerbaijan – Human Rights Record
For more than a decade, the NHC has been calling out systematic and widespread human rights violations in Azerbaijan, steadfastly supporting civil society and championing freedoms essential for democratic dialogue. The NHC has expressed solidarity with Azerbaijani journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society facing increasing harassment, arbitrary detention, and imprisonment for criticising the government. We have condemned the Azerbaijani government’s crackdown on free expression, particularly targeting journalists and media outlets, and called for international intervention to protect independent reporting. The NHC has also repeatedly emphasised the importance of EU-Azerbaijan human rights dialogue, noting that legal victories (event at the level of the European Court of Human Rights) are insufficient without broader systemic change in Azerbaijan. We have urged the EU, including the Netherlands, to strengthen its commitment to human rights in its relations with Azerbaijan, ensuring political and economic ties do not overshadow fundamental freedoms.[1]
Alongside these efforts, the NHC has in recent weeks joined European civil society organisations urging the EU to address the human rights crisis in Azerbaijan during COP29 and calling on the new Council of Europe leadership to prioritize human rights in Azerbaijan.
Human rights in Azerbaijan in the lead up to the COP
In the months leading up to COP29, the Azerbaijani government has intensified its campaign to silence dissent, systematically arresting independent journalists like Ulvi Hasanli, Mahammad Kekalov, Sevinj Vagifgizi (Abzas Media), Imran Aliyev, and Alaskar Mammadli (Toplum TV); civil society leaders such as Anar Mammadli and Afiaddin Mammadov , and political opposition leader Akif Gurbanov; and scholars including Igbal Abilov and Bahruz Samadov. This active crackdown reflects an escalating repression aimed at silencing all independent voices.
At the same time, the European Union (EU) and the Netherlands, in line with most other western countries, have pledged support for the climate conference, raising questions from the international community about commitments to and attention for human rights. The Azerbaijani government has systematically stifled civil society and cracked down on free speech, creating an atmosphere where open dialogue is increasingly dangerous. Samed Rahimli, a prominent Azerbaijani human rights lawyer, has voiced alarm over this trend, noting that the ability to engage in open discussions has deteriorated significantly. Reflecting on the situation, Rahimli stated, “Until the previous year, I think we could have such kind of conversation in Azerbaijan. But now, repressions have really increased, and such kind of conversation in Azerbaijan might not be possible.” His words reflect a broader shift in the political landscape, where dissent is no longer tolerated, and the space for independent thought continues to shrink.
Restricted media landscape in Azerbaijan
Rahimli’s concerns are echoed by international observers who worry that the upcoming COP29 will be a carefully orchestrated event aimed at showcasing a positive image of Azerbaijan, rather than genuinely addressing climate issues. The government’s tight control over civil society has turned the country’s media landscape into what Rahimli describes as an “online ghetto,” where independent outlets and NGOs are forced to operate in highly restricted conditions. The latest legal reforms, including a new media law that mandates all journalists to register with a state-controlled body, have further limited freedom of expression. “Now we have a new media law, and this law says that all journalists should be registered,” Rahimli explained. “Only those with licenses are recognized as legitimate journalists.” This move has made it nearly impossible for critical voices to be heard, creating an environment where the government can manage the public narrative with little to no opposition.
Open dialogue amidst growing repression?
This crackdown on media freedom and civil society presents a profound challenge for the EU and the Netherlands, which have pledged to support global climate action while also expressing concerns about Azerbaijan’s human rights situation. On one hand, both the EU and the Netherlands have committed resources to the COP29 conference, underscoring the importance of international cooperation on climate issues. The EU has even emphasized the need for civil society participation and transparency during the negotiations. The international community has questioned the validity of these commitments, noting that the very voices that should be participating are silenced by government repression.
In our interview, Rahimli further questioned the ability of Azerbaijan to host a truly open and inclusive climate conference, pointing out the practical barriers to protest or dissent. “I don’t believe that protesting during COP29 is possible right now, because they would face very harsh consequences for doing this,” he cautioned. This sentiment underscores the broader fear that the Azerbaijani government will use COP29 as a public relations exercise, ensuring that any attempt to criticize the government or highlight its human rights abuses is likely quashed before it can gain traction.
Legitimisation through COP
As the international community looks to Azerbaijan to fulfil its commitments as a COP29 host, there is a growing sense that the event will be an opportunity for the government to present a façade of progressiveness, while suppressing dissenting opinions. Rahimli and other human rights advocates warn that the international spotlight on COP29 could be used to legitimize a regime with a well-documented record of repressing its citizens. In his view, the release of a few political prisoners through international pressure should not be seen as a victory, as many others remain unjustly detained. “We need support for others,” Rahimli emphasized, urging the international community to push for the release of all political prisoners and to hold the Azerbaijani government accountable for its ongoing repression.
Call to action to EU (member states): Leverage influence to demand protection of human rights
The NHC’s track record of supporting local actors and pushing for legislative transparency demonstrates that sustained pressure is essential. Now, the international community, especially EU member states like the Netherlands, must leverage their influence to demand the protection of human rights – not only through diplomatic channels but also by leveraging their influence over climate negotiations to push for genuine political reform. This means ensuring that civil society can safely engage in COP29, with measures in place to challenge repressive tactics publicly.
As COP29 approaches, we want to reinforce the message that meaningful progress in Azerbaijan must include both climate and human rights reforms. The world should not allow the conference to become a sanitised platform that obscures the harsh realities faced by those speaking truth to power. Now is the time for a unified, vocal international stance that insists on true inclusivity and accountability, honoring the courageous work of Azerbaijani defenders and pushing for broader reforms that outlive the conference.
[1] Please find a selection of the NHC’s track-record on human rights in Azerbaijan below.
https://www.nhc.nl/statement-in-solidarity-with-azerbaijani-journalists/ (2024)
https://www.nhc.nl/when-winning-isnt-enough-civil-society-and-the-european-court-of-human-rights/ (2023)
https://www.nhc.nl/bring-human-rights-home/ (2021)
https://www.nhc.nl/joint-statement-echr-judgments-azerbaijan/ (2020)
https://www.nhc.nl/nhc-contributes-to-the-annual-eu-azerbaijan-human-rights-dialogue-march-2020/ (2020)
https://www.nhc.nl/defending-human-rights-azerbaijan/ (2019)
https://www.nhc.nl/statement-in-support-of-azerbaijani-human-rights-lawyer-elchin-sadigov/ (2018)
https://www.nhc.nl/rights-groups-demand-justice-journalist-mehman-huseynov-tortured-azerbaijan/ (2017)
https://www.nhc.nl/azerbaijan-renewed-human-rights-crackdown-ahead-referendum/ (2016)
https://www.nhc.nl/increasing-concern-azerbaijani-human-rights-defenders/ (2015)
https://www.nhc.nl/shocking-new-arrests-human-rights-defenders-azerbaijan/ (2014)
