Human Rights Watch criticizes Azerbaijani authorities for increasing repression and arrests for political reasons
The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its report on the human rights situation noted the intensification of repression and torture against journalists and political activists in Azerbaijan. According to human rights activists, in 2024, the wave of arrests of critics of the Azerbaijani authorities continued.
Thus, the head of the election observation group Anar Mammadli, former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov, economic observer Farid Mehralizade, opposition activist Tofig Yagublu, and the founder of the parliamentary analytical online publication Imran Aliyev were arrested on false charges. In addition, the authorities placed academician Gubad Ibadoglu under house arrest.
“Azerbaijani authorities targeted three independent media platforms – Abzas Media, Toplum TV and Kanal 13 – and arrested their reporters and other staff on trumped-up smuggling charges,” the report says.
The HRW investigation also mentions the practice of torture in Azerbaijani prisons. In July 2024, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) issued a statement about the Azerbaijani authorities’ outright refusal to cooperate with the institute.
