Dozens of international human rights organizations have sent a letter to Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Perri to urge him not to ratify the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE due to increasing repression following the presidential elections on February 7 and the parliamentary elections on September 1, 2024, which have led to unprecedented repression.
“As of the writing of this article, there are almost no independent civil society entities left free in the country. Leaders of independent media have been arrested, and authorities have intensified pressure on lawyers and academics,” the letter states.
The appeal mentions the names of human rights defender Anar Mamedli, disabled activist Famil Khalilov, young researcher Bakhruz Samadov, economist Gubad Ibadoglu, and trade union activist Afiaddin Mammadov.
Azerbaijani authorities have begun targeting independent media, conducting raids and shutting down “Abzas Media”, “Toplum TV”, and “Kanal 13”. Journalists were arrested during these raids, including director of “Abzas Media” Ulvi Hasanly, editor Sevinc Abbasova, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and human rights defender Akif Gurbanov, founder of “Toplum TV” Alesker Mamedli, director of “Kanal 13” Azizi Orudjev, and journalists Shamo Eminov, Elanara Gasimova, Narqiz Absalamova, and Ali Zeynal, as well as political activists Tofik Yagublu and Ruslan Izzatli, and investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly.
The signatory organizations request the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to call for the release of Anar Mamedli and other human rights defenders, civil activists, environmental activists, and journalists whose arrests are politically motivated.
