The organization stated that the snap presidential and parliamentary elections held in the country did not meet standards, the arrests of independent journalists continued, and the government intensified its crackdown on critics ahead of COP29.
Human Rights Watch, the international human rights organization (HRW), published its annual report on the global human rights situation in 2024. The section of the report released on January 16, which pertains to Azerbaijan, notes that the government increased pressure on domestic critics in November during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in the country.
"In the months leading up to the conference, authorities arrested dozens of individuals, including journalists, human rights defenders, and activists, on politically motivated charges. The government continued to interfere with freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, as well as to enforce laws that cripple civil society. Cases of torture and ill-treatment of detainees also persisted," the report stated.
It was also highlighted that the snap presidential and parliamentary elections held in February and September did not meet free and fair election standards. International observers characterized the elections as marked by the "suppression of critical voices" and "lack of competition."
The report recalled that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a decision in January not to ratify the mandate of Azerbaijan's delegation, citing the government's failure to fulfill its "core commitments" undertaken upon joining the Council of Europe.
The state of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia was also addressed in this year's report. It noted that while negotiations on a final peace agreement have progressed, tensions at the border have occasionally led to clashes.
"Despite Azerbaijan's declared commitments, no significant steps have been taken to ensure the safe and dignified return of ethnic Armenians who left Karabakh in September 2023 or to restore their property rights," the report emphasized.
The document released by HRW noted that in 2024, the government continued similar forms of pressure from previous years, carrying out new arrests targeting critics and filing false and unfounded charges against opposition members, journalists, and civil society activists.
The arrests of Bahruz Samadov, a critic of the Second Karabakh War, and Iqbal Abilov, a researcher on the Talysh minority, by authorities in August and July of the past year were specifically highlighted. It was reported that both individuals were held in pretrial detention during the investigation period.
The report also drew attention to the arrests of several government critics, including Anar Mammadli, the head of an election monitoring group; former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov; economist Farid Mehralizadeh; opposition activist Tofig Yagublu; Imran Aliyev, the founder of a website providing parliamentary analyses; and Famil Khalilov, a critic deported from Sweden in 2023 after his asylum request was denied. It was emphasized that all of these individuals were held in detention until their court hearings.
It was noted that Gubad Ibadoglu, who was arrested in July 2023 on charges of "forgery and extremism," was released to house arrest in April of the past year but remains under strict police surveillance.
The report further highlighted that as part of ongoing investigations, the government imposed travel bans on numerous individuals.
The report highlighted that in May 2024, the President of Azerbaijan issued a pardon decree; however, none of the individuals imprisoned on politically motivated charges were included in the list. It also mentioned that one participant in the 2023 protests in the Soyudlu village was punished on charges of drug possession.
The report documented instances of detainees being subjected to mistreatment and torture. It specifically referenced the statements of Fazil Gasimov and Imran Aliyev, who reported being subjected to violence, torture, and ill-treatment by the police.
Additionally, the report included testimony from Taleh Bagirzade, a religious figure serving a 20-year prison sentence, who described extremely poor conditions in his detention.
The report recalled that Azerbaijan has refused to cooperate with the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). This move by the Azerbaijani authorities was sharply criticized by the organization, which described it as a “grave and unprecedented violation” of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture.
In July 2024, the “AbzasMedia” platform published detailed information regarding torture allegations involving its imprisoned director, Ulvi Hasanli. Between January and July 2024, Hasanli documented at least 58 cases of torture or ill-treatment in the detention center where he was awaiting trial.
Hasanli’s family believes that violence and repeated threats against him by another inmate were orchestrated by the authorities in retaliation for his exposure of these abuses.
The report also addressed the state of freedom of expression and media in Azerbaijan. It noted that since November 2023, the authorities have targeted at least three independent media platforms—"AbzasMedia," "Toplum TV," and "Kanal13"—arresting their correspondents and other staff members on fabricated smuggling charges.
At least 12 media workers and individuals associated with these outlets, including reporters Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Abbasova (Vaqifqizi), Hafiz Babali, Nargiz Absalamova, Mammad Kekalov, Elnara Gasimova, Shamo Eminov, Mushfig Jabbarov, Ali Zeynalov, and Aziz Orujov, remain in detention.
In August 2024, the authorities brought additional criminal charges, including tax evasion, document forgery, and money laundering, against "AbzasMedia" journalists and Mehralizadeh. They are currently being held in pretrial detention.
In March, shortly after the presidential elections, police raided the office of "Toplum TV," seizing all its equipment and sealing the premises. Five individuals affiliated with "Toplum TV," including citizens, journalists, and political activists—Akif Gurbanov, Ruslan Izzetli, Ilkin Amrahov, Ramil Babayev, and Alesker Mammadli—were arrested.
In August 2024, a court sentenced a participant in the 2023 ecological protest actions in Soyudlu on fabricated charges of drug possession. The individual had printed posters used during the protests.
The report's section on "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" highlighted that LGBT individuals in Azerbaijan face mistreatment, blackmail, arbitrary arrests, and discrimination at the hands of both state and non-state actors.
“Media reports indicate that discrimination has caused some transgender individuals to struggle in finding suitable housing and employment, forcing them to rely on the support of LGBT rights groups and women's organizations,” the report stated.
The organization emphasized that the Azerbaijani government’s increasing crackdown on civil society has also affected LGBT rights organizations. As a result, many of these organizations have either limited their activities or ceased operations entirely for security reasons.
“In April 2023, the European Court of Human Rights dismissed the complaints of 24 individuals who had suffered during the 2017 police crackdowns against the LGBT community in Azerbaijan. The complaints were linked to the government’s acknowledgment of rights violations and its payment of compensation. During the 2017 police operations, men presumed to be gay or bisexual and transgender women were subjected to arrests, violence, and torture.
The complainants expressed significant dissatisfaction with the outcome, stating that the government’s acknowledgment lacked clarity regarding the nature and scale of the violations. Moreover, the government made no commitments to prevent such abuses in the future. They emphasized that LGBT individuals continue to be targeted by police and that the authorities fail to address the persecution and discrimination they face.
The Azerbaijani government has not responded to the report. However, official Baku typically rejects criticism in reports by international human rights organizations, labeling them as biased.”