On 29 May, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Azerbaijan had failed to comply with its 2014 decision to immediately release political activist Ilgar Mammadov; end the prosecution of government critics and provide acquittal and reparation. Several states expressed concerns about new restrictions on civil society.
In April, an independent body published a report finding that Azerbaijan exerted undue influence on members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to minimize criticism of its human rights record. According to a 2012 report of the Azerbaijani authorities have imprisoned several notable journalists. People of many religions coexist in Azerbaijan.
Other persistent human rights problems include torture, interference in the work and independence of lawyers, and restrictions on media freedoms. Azerbaijan police violently dispersed two peaceful protests in central Baku on October 19 and 20, 2019, Human Rights Watch said today. According to the Law passed in the parliament, on 21 July 1919, All citizens of Azerbaijan have right to elect and be elected, and to participate in referendums.Azerbaijan has been harshly criticized for bribing members and officials from international organizations to legitimize the fraudulent elections, a practice which has been termed as "caviar diplomacy".Up until June 2005, the Azerbaijani people did not enjoy According to the Human Rights Watch 2013 report, "Azerbaijan’s record on freedom of expression, assembly, and association has been on a steady decline for some years, but it has seen a dramatic deterioration since mid-2012".In a screed delivered on 15 July 2020, the day after a pro-military rally in Baku, President Aliyev targeted the largest opposition party, the International pressure has been exerted on Azerbaijan to release its number of Later on in 2013, seven young activists, including four board members, of In early August, media censorship was lifted in Azerbaijan. In April, President Ilham Aliyev was elected for a fourth term in elections that international observers found lacked competition, and “took place in a restrictive political environment and under laws that curtail fundamental rights and freedoms.”
At least 43 human rights defenders, journalists, political and religious activists remained wrongfully imprisoned, while dozens more were detained or under criminal investigation, faced harassment and travel bans, or fled Azerbaijan.
At least 17 other members of Muslim Unity remained in prison on dubious extremism and other charges.
In May, a court convicted Alikram Khurshidov, an active member of the opposition Musavat party, on bogus hooliganism charges and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment, reduced by six months upon appeal in August. If convicted, he could face up to six additional months in jail.
Among nine other APFP members in prison are Fuad Ahmadli, Fuad Gahramanli, and Murad Adilov.
In March, a court sentenced Ahsan Nuruzade, senior member of Muslim Unity, an unregistered, conservative Shiite movement, to seven years in jail on bogus drug charges. IEWY.com.Spartacus International Gay Guide, page 1216. World Report 2019 - Azerbaijan. Aliyev is the director of the Turan news agency. Earlier in January, based on a similar complaint, the Bar Association suspended the license of another lawyer, Fakhraddin Mehdiyev.In June, human rights lawyer Irada Javadova was disbarred pursuant to a complaint that authorities allegedly pressured her client to file against her.In November 2017, Yalchin Imanov lost his license after going public about his defendants’ torture in prison.Following December 2017 legislative amendments, lawyers without Bar Association membership may no longer represent clients in civic or administrative proceedings, further restricting the work of the handful of independent lawyers working on politically motivated cases.In July, the Bar Association reprimanded Fuad Agayev, who represents several prominent political prisoners, based on a bogus complaint that he had insulted a prison guard.All mainstream media remained under tight government control. The ommissioner for Human Rights of the ouncil of Europe, Dunja Mijatović (the ommissioner), carried out a visit to Azerbaijan from 8 1to 12 July 2019. Defamation is a criminal offense. Other persistent human rights problems included systemic torture, undue interference in the work of lawyers, and restrictions on media freedoms.Azerbaijan’s international partners criticized abuses, but did not condition ties with Azerbaijan on improvements.Authorities released some political activists, but continued to imprison other critics on politically motivated charges.In August, authorities released prominent political activist Ilgar Mammadov subject to a suspended two-year term, after he spent over five years in prison on charges that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found to be unlawful and in retaliation for his activism. Dialogue met on 5-6 February 2019 in Baku. EMDS is a non-governmental organization operating in Azerbaijan to promote human rights and democratic … People who publicly criticize the authorities faced arrest and threats aimed at silencing them; at least 10 remained behind bars.
In January, a court convicted journalist Afghan Mukhtarli to six years on bogus smuggling charges after he was kidnapped in May 2017 from Georgia, where he had lived in exile out of fear for his security, and illegally transferred to Azerbaijan.
Opposition journalist Seymur Hazi, satirical poet Tofig Hasanli, and prominent blogger Mehman Huseynov remained in prison on bogus charges.
In June, the Communications Ministry permanently blocked three news websites following the prosecutor general’s accusations that they “supported terrorism” with their “incorrect coverage” of an assassination attempt on a public official and the ensuing public unrest.
In August, courts in Baku ruled to block three local news websites, az24saat.org, xural.com, and monitortv.info, after officials brought defamation charges against them.
Fifteen journalists working in Azerbaijan for the Berlin-based Meydan TV have remained under criminal tax evasion investigation since 2016.