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Azerbaijan Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Situation Prior to the Election Submission to the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe Thank you, Chairman Hastings and the other members of the Commission, for allowing me to submit this written statement. Human Rights Watch welcomes the opportunity to submit our main concerns and recommendations for this hearing on Azerbaijan. The Commission’s hearing is an important opportunity to candidly assess the shortcomings that continue to mar the Azerbaijani government’s human rights record, and to encourage the Azerbaijani authorities to undertake concrete steps to address them prior to the October 2008 Presidential Elections. July 30, 2008 Testimony Letter to the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Regarding the Detention of Emin Huseynov Dear Prosecutor General Garalov, We are writing to express our profound concern about the detention and abuse in custody of a leading human rights activist Emin Huseynov, and urge you to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation, capable of leading to the prosecution of the responsible officials. June 25, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Letter to the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the US State Department about Concerns in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia Dear Secretary Kramer, We believe that your forthcoming trips to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia provide important opportunities for raising key human rights concerns with the respective governments. Below we outline our main concerns in each country as well as recommendations for bringing the countries in line with their international commitments. June 25, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Azerbaijan: Imprisoned Journalists Recognized for Courage Three Writers Awarded Hellman/Hammett Grants Three Azerbaijani writers have been recognized for persevering in their work despite political persecution and imprisonment, Human Rights Watch said today. April 24, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications. March 11, 2008 Letter Also available in 
Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch's Submission on Azerbaijan to the European Commission’s ENP Progress Report This submission, prepared to feed into the upcoming European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan progress report on Azerbaijan, summarizes Human Rights Watch’s concerns with respect to a number of areas where believe government action is not in line with the ENP Action Plan’s priority area 2 and 3 for Azerbaijan: Strengthening democracy in the country, including through fair and transparent electoral process; and strengthening the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, in compliance with international commitments of Azerbaijan. January 24, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Letter to President Aliyev on Journalists' Release Human Rights Watch welcomes the recent release of five journalists, imprisoned for defamation and other criminal charges, who were included in the presidential decree pardoning 119 inmates. This step is in line with Azerbaijan’s Council of Europe obligations. Further steps should be taken to fully ensure press freedoms in Azerbaijan, including the release of the remaining four journalists and writers imprisoned for what appear to be politically motivated criminal charges, and the declaration of a moratorium on further prosecutions for criminal libel. January 11, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Azerbaijan: Outspoken Editor Sentenced to Eight Years and Six Months Unrelenting Crackdown on Media in Azerbaijan Intensifies The eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence handed down to Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of Azerbaijan’s two largest independent newspapers, for terrorism and other charges, reflects the growing government hostility toward freedom of expression and the press, Human Rights Watch said today. October 30, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to EBRD on Country Strategy Review for Azerbaijan The draft strategy acknowledges that there are “many challenges remaining” in Azerbaijan’s transition to a more pluralistic society. Human Rights Watch is concerned that the draft strategy’s assessment of some of these challenges is not extensive enough to lead the Bank to pursue needed reform in Azerbaijan. September 6, 2007 Letter Letter to President Aliyev Urging Journalists' Release We very much hoped that the journalists would be pardoned for Azerbaijan’s National Press Day on July 22. I understand that only you have the authority to pardon convicts and that your absence at the time stood in the way of releasing the imprisoned journalists. Now that you have returned, I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully urge you to use your authority to take the magnanimous step of ending the imprisonment of all seven journalists. August 15, 2007 Letter Printer friendly version Letter to President Aliev Protesting the Closure of Realni Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan Dear President Aliev, I am writing to express profound concern about the government’s effective closure of Realni Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan, the two largest-circulation newspapers in Azerbaijan. Their closure represents a significant blow against independent and opposition media that reflects the growing government hostility toward freedom of expression and the press. May 30, 2007 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Azerbaijan: Opposition Editor Sentenced to Prison Government Intensifies Media Crackdown Through 'Criminal Libel' Charges The conviction of Eynulla Fatullayev, the editor of Azerbaijan's largest independent newspaper, for “criminal libel” and “insult,” underscores deteriorating press freedoms in that country, Human Rights Watch said today. April 26, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter from Human Rights Watch to President Aliev We are writing to express our deep concern about the rapidly deteriorating environment for independent media in Azerbaijan. We urge you to take steps to end impunity for violence against journalists and ensure that Azerbaijan complies with its international commitments to freedom of expression and the press. February 9, 2007 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Bush Must Press for Human Rights Reform in Azerbaijan U.S. President George W. Bush must press for concrete progress in Azerbaijan’s poor human rights record when he hosts Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev at the White House on Friday, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent last week to President Bush. April 25, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Letter from Human Rights Watch to President Bush Urging that human rights be high on the agenda during his April 28 meeting with President Ilham Aliev We are writing to urge you to use your forthcoming meeting with President Ilham Aliev to reaffirm the importance of human rights in Azerbaijan. April 18, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Azerbaijan: Opposition Youth Activists on Trial The Azerbaijani government must ensure a fair trial for three opposition youth leaders whose trial begins today in Baku, Human Rights Watch said today. March 31, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version EU-South Caucasus: Concrete Human Rights Benchmarks Needed EU Should Not Squander Leverage on Human Rights in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia The European Union should press for concrete benchmarks on torture, freedom of expression and other key human rights issues on Monday when it holds ministerial-level meetings with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Human Rights Watch said today. December 9, 2005 Press Release Printer friendly version Azerbaijan Elections and After Respect for human rights in the November 2005 parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan fell far short of international standards, with serious violations occurring both prior to and on election day. These shortcomings once again underscored the urgent need for major reforms in the areas of freedom of expression and assembly, the electoral law and its implementation, and accountability mechanisms. November 18, 2005 Background Briefing Azerbaijan: Run-Up to Election Not Free or Fair Parliamentary Campaign Marred by Police Violence, Intimidation The Azerbaijani government’s campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition candidates and supporters has extinguished the possibility of free and fair parliamentary elections on November 6, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. October 31, 2005 Press Release Printer friendly version Azerbaijan: Police Violence Mars Election Campaign Prospects for Free Parliamentary Elections in Doubt Mounting police violence against members of the political opposition in Azerbaijan casts serious doubt on the government’s commitment to ensuring free and fair parliamentary elections on November 6, Human Rights Watch said today. October 4, 2005 Press Release Printer friendly version |
 
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