Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights

“There are equal political opportunities for everyone in Azerbaijan” – Ahmad Shahidov criticized double standards towards Azerbaijan at the OSCE Warsaw Meeting

On September 13, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of OSCE participating States, organized by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) continued its work in Warsaw, Poland. Representatives of OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions, and OSCE executive structures, representatives of inter-governmental organizations, legal professionals, representatives of civil society and researchers from 57 participating States […]

Ahmad Shahidov spoke about the democratic reforms and elections in South Caucasus at the OSCE Warsaw Meeting

On September 11, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of OSCE participating States, organized by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) started its work in Warsaw, Poland. Representatives of OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions, and OSCE executive structures, representatives of inter-governmental organizations, legal professionals, representatives of civil society and researchers from 57 participating States […]

“German correspondent Chase Winter, who supports terror act in Istanbul, must be punished” – Ahmad Shahidov raised the issue at the OSCE

Human rights defender Ahmad Shahidov spoke about the Istanbul terror act in OSCE meeting on the topic of “Propaganda of hatred in the media: self-regulation & journalism ethics” On December 13-14, OSCE Media Conference “Propaganda of hatred in the media: self-regulation & journalism ethics”, organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of […]

AIDHR report on the National Council’s protest rally on April 5

Azerbaijani Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (AIDHR) carried out monitoring of 5th April’s protest rally As informed early, an authorised protest rally took place in “Mahsul” stadium which locates in Yasamal District, Baku on April 5. The rally that organised by the National Council commenced at 03; 00pm and continued until 05; 00pm. In […]

AIDHR conducts monitoring on the National Council‘s demonstration to be held on 5 April

Ahmad Shahidov: “I will make a reporting speech on state of freedoms of peaceful assembly in Azerbaijan during the OSCE forthcoming meeting to be held 16-17 April” Members of Azerbaijani Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (AIDHR) will monitor National Council‘s demonstration which is scheduled on 5 April. Protesters, condition created for them to exercise […]

U.S. voices concerns over the deteriorating situation for civil society, media in Azerbaijan

Washington remains concerned about the deteriorating situation for civil society in Azerbaijan, including journalists and media outlets, US Ambassador Daniel Baer, US Representative to the OSCE, noted in his recent statement delivered to the organization’s Permanent Council. “We urge Azerbaijan to adhere to its commitments and to respect the rights of individuals, including those working […]

Situation in Azerbaijan to Be Discussed in Washington

Hearings on the situation in Azerbaijan will be held in Washington D.C. on January 12. The discussion entitled “Silencing independent voices in Azerbaijan” is organized by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). As noted in the statement on its website, unprecedented repression against opposition-minded people is taking place in Azerbaijan. Arrests of journalists, human rights […]

Parliament tightens the requirements for foreign donors

The Milli Majlis amended the legislation on NGOs introducing toughened conditions for the activities of foreign donors. In particular, amendments were adopted to the laws “On the non-governmental organizations (public associations and foundations)” and “On Grants.” Thus, the new wording of Article 24.2 of the Law “On NGOs” reads that the work and services provided […]

The public interest should not violate the freedom of expression – expert

The escalation of tension on the front at the beginning of August showed a lack of willingness of many Azerbaijani media to work in an emergency. This is especially evident in the dissemination of information to the frontline when publications often revealed details about the deployment of troops and equipment moving. Such an opinion in […]

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: Washington should not dictate us

Statement by the Press Secretary of the Department of State on Azerbaijan on August 27 and 28, are not justified and are not acceptable, stated Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Elman Abdullayev. “Such statements have political character, and are an attempt to exert political pressure and interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan. This statement does not […]

UN experts concerned with the problems of civil society in Azerbaijan

Economic Development of Azerbaijan should be based on human rights and open dialogue. This is the general opinion of the members of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, who visited Azerbaijan to study the human rights situation in the field of business. During a 10-day visit, the guests met in Baku and […]

IRFS shames the Council of Europe

The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) stated that it is in shock after a near-fatal attack on the well-known journalist Ilgar Nasibov in Azerbaijan. With this attack, which was particularly shocking in its violence, the alarming deterioration of human rights record has reached the point of no-return. According to the statement, a journalist […]

IRFS: The Council of Europe must not condone human rights abuses

The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) condemns in the strongest possible terms the Azerbaijani government’s unprecedented attacks on independent human rights activists and organizations. The Council of Europe must not condone this frantic crackdown;  as well as Azerbaijan’s chairmanship over this body should be cancelled until the regime has put its house in […]

Flash mob to support human rights activist Rasul Jafarov

A rally to support  the arrested human rights activist Rasul Jafarov took place in the city of Sheki on the occasion of his 30th birthday. The rally was held in front of the ancient fortress of Sheki, in front of the medieval dungeon, according to the Azerbaijani service of “Radio Liberty”. Activists raised placards in support […]

RWB: Campaign targets include major media support NGOs

The Azerbaijani government has been waging an unprecedented drive since July against human rights advocates, independent journalists, and their supporters. On 14 May, Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s ministerial committee. Recent events make clear that the country is the most repressive of the council’s 47 members. A number of media-support organizations […]

Nobel Women: Release human rights activist Leyla Yunus

The Nobel Women’s Initiative calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defenders Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus. Leyla is the founding director of the Peace and Democracy Institute in Baku and a friend of the Nobel Women’s Initiative. The activists have been detained now for over two weeks. Leyla Yunus’ health has dramatically deteriorated while in […]

Group of political parties establish the Joint Center of Legal Protection

A meeting of representatives of political parties in the country dedicated to the issue of political prisoners and government pressure on civil society took place on Friday in the office Classic Popular Front Party . A number of political parties participating in the event reached 14. However, among them  were not representatives of the National […]

Prosecutor’s office interrogates the lawyer of the IRFS

On Thursday a lawyer of the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) Gunay Ismaylova was interrogated for three hours in the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General for Serious Crimes. The interrogation was conducted with the participation of a lawyer Yalcin Imanov. The interrogation was conducted in connection with a criminal case against a […]

Court trail for the convicted on Ismayilli events will continue on September 3

On Wednesday Sheki Court of Appeal continued the appeal in the case of the convicted on the riots in Ismayilly in January 2013. The Court of Sheki convicted on March 2013, 18 people for participating and organizing riots, including the leader of the REAL Ilgar Mamedov, and deputy chairman of the “Musavat” Tofiq Yagublu. At […]

Amnesty International: Intigam Aliyev – Prisoner of Conscience

Amnesty International has recognized Azerbaijani human rights activist Intigam Aliyev “prisoner of conscience” and called for his immediate release. In a special statement, Amnesty International, on Tuesday, noted that Aliyev was arrested on trumped up charges and he is being persecuted for his human rights activities. The statement reads that Intigam Aliyev, a prominent Azerbaijani […]

Judge evicts Ilgar Mammadov from the court hall

Today Sheki Court of Appeal considered the appeal on Ismayilli events in 2013. In March 2013 the Sheki Court convicted 18 people for participating and organizing riots in the region of Ismayilly in January of the same year. Among those convicted is also leader of the REAL Movement, Ilgar Mammadov and deputy chairman of the […]

Health of Leyla Yunus deteriorates

The health of a human rights activist Leyla Yunus, who is in Baku prison and suffers from diabetes deteriorated, she told her friends. According to Turan, a civil rights activist, doctor Azad Isazade said that they make her painkiller-injections. Yunus also said that representatives of the Red Cross visited her. However, prosecutors did not respond […]

Appeals from Anar Mammadli

The Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) scheduled for August 18 a preliminary hearing on the case of the head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Training Center (EMDTC) Anar Mammadli and two other activists. Recall that on May 26 the head of EMDTC Anar Mammadli was sentenced to 5.5 years of imprisonment and the executive […]

PFPA activist arrested on charges of drug possession

August 11 armed police came to the house of the father of a PFPA activist, journalist of the newspaper Azadlig Natig Adilov in Sabirabad. “Armed men in masks that came to our place found a package under my sister’s pillow and declared its contents a “drug”. At the same time, they arrested my brother Murad […]

Intigam Aliyev kept in prison under severe conditions

Head of the Legal Education Society Intigam Aliyev is still contained in the Baku prison in the so-called “quarantine”, the human rights activist’s daughter Narmin Karimli wrote at her Facebook account. He is still kept in quarantine, which is a small room in penalty section of the detention center. Eight people in a small room. […]