A draft law on sanctions against 44 high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan has been submitted to the US Congress. The reason is their violation of human rights, carrying out repressions against the opposition, activists and journalists.

The authors note that “the merciless repression against the domestic political opposition in Azerbaijan raises serious concerns about the violation of the rights of the country’s citizens.” The full list of 44 officials will be announced in the coming days. It contains the names of members of the Presidential Administration, the Ministry of Defense, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Border Service, the Penitentiary Service, and judges of the Baku Court of Serious Crimes.

Since the end of last year, Azerbaijan has carried out large-scale repressions against independent journalists and activists from Abzas Media. They were accused of smuggling foreign currency. Representatives of the press deny the accusations and believe that they are being persecuted for investigating corruption.

Two journalists from the independent Internet television channel Channel 13 and four employees of Toplum TV were also arrested. All were accused of currency smuggling.

International human rights and media organizations condemned the Azerbaijani authorities and demanded the release of media workers.

The total number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has reached 288 people. This is 43 more people than at the end of 2023.