Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights

Austrian National Day marked in Baku

On October 25, the Austrian Embassy in Azerbaijan has organized a reception on the occasion of the country`s National Day The event bought together officials, MPs, ambassadors of foreign countries accredited in Azerbaijan. After the state anthems of Azerbaijan and Austria were performed, Ambassador of Austria Axel Wech made remarks. The Ambassador in particular provided […]

Representatives of Working Group Call on Attorney General to Release Intigam Aliyev

NGO representatives in the joint working group (JWG) on Human Rights appealed to the General Prosecutor’s Office to release the human rights defender Intigam Aliyev and create the conditions for his treatment. Turan was reported by a member of the JWG, head of the Society for Women’s Rights Novella Jafaroglu. According to her, Aliyev is […]

State Department wants to know why the American aid is blocked

Noah Krystel, Department of State EUR-ACE Deputy Director. is with a fact finding mission to see about conditions affecting US assistance to Azerbaijan. In particular, he intends to understand the factors that influence the American aid, stated the US Embassy in Baku. In the afternoon Krystel already met with the press, and expressed serious concern […]

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 […]

Intigam Aliyev continues advocacy in jail

The lawyer Anar Gasymly visited the human rights defender Intigam Aliyev in Baku Prison N1 on September 6. However wardens again censored the records prepared by the human rights activist for the lawyer. Turan was told by Aliyev’s relatives. In particular, they prohibited the transfer of an appeal to the leadership of the detention center […]

IREX appeal against the actions of the investigators in court

On Friday September, 5th, representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office came unannounced to the IREX office in Baku. They brought an order issued by the Court of Yasamal, and took away all computers, and other equipment as well as all documents. IREX has since lodged a legal appeal, and hopes the equipment and documents will be returned […]

Search and seizure of documents in the office of IREX

In the afternoon on Friday prosecutor employees came to the office of the American organization IREX. Presenting a judgment, they began to withdraw equipment – electronic media, as well as documents of the NGO. It became known Turan from informed sources, prosecutors employees came to the office at 11:00 am on Friday, and at 17:00 […]

Gubad Ibadoglu: Accusations against NGOs is absurdity

The Nasimi and Sabail district courts arrested bank accounts  of the known economic expert Gubad Ibadoglu and the  Center for Civic Initiatives (CCI) led by him. Last week Ibadoglu himself  was questioned as a witness in the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General for Serious Crimes in the case against local and foreign NGOs.  Ibadoglu […]

8 international organizations call to Investigate brutal attack on Ilgar Nasibov

The brutal attack on the journalist Ilgar Nasibov, in Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, is an outrage and Azerbaijan’s authorities should ensure a prompt, effective and impartial investigation, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights House Foundation, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, People in Need, Human Rights Watch, ARTICLE 19 and Reporters without borders said today. The […]

Anar Mammadli bidder for the award of Vaclav Havel

The human rights defender Anar Mammadli is one of the three candidates for the award named Vaclav Havel in 2014. According to the radio Azadlig, together with Anar Mammadli the contenders are the Israeli organization B’tselem, which protects the rights of the Palestinians, as well as the Malta branch of the international organization Jesuit, protecting […]

At the trial of Anar Mammadli Court of Appeal rejected all petitions

The Baku Court of Appeal chaired by Aflatun Gasimov today held a preliminary hearing on the case of the convicted head of the Election Monitoring Center Anar Mammadli and two other activists, Bashir Suleymanli and Elnur Mammadov. At the beginning of the session the defense applied for a permit to Mammadli and Mammadov to sit […]

Trial against human rights defender starts in Salyan

In the Lankaran Court of Grave Crimes today began the proceedings against Emil Mammadov – head of the NGO Promotion of Democracy from Salyan. Mammadov was detained on 13 May and was arrested on charges of extortion (Article 182.2.2). Grounds for arrest were evidence given by Tofig Gasimov, employee of Mammadov’s NGO. The lawyer Fariz […]

Leyla Yunus in serious condition – lawyer

On August 19 the lawyer Alaif Hasanov visited in detention the human rights defenders Leila Yunus and Intigam Aliyev, reported Radio Liberty. “Leila Yunus is contained in a cell measuring 12 square meters, where there are also 6 people. There’s no air and there is a special attitude towards the prisoners. In particular, into the […]

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 […]

NGO leaders condemn “spy mania” by authorities

Representatives of several NGOs held a press conference on the recent arrests of activists. Participants noted a steady deterioration of situation in the  institutions of civil society over the last 4-5 years. The situation worsened particularly after amendments to the legislation at the end of last year. The recent arrests of prominent activists, freezing their […]

Authorities block the work of a large group of independent NGOs

Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan started an investigation into the activities of international organizations in Azerbaijan. In this regard, the bank accounts were frozen by some NGOs. “The prosecutor’s office admits that funds of these NGOs could be used in any crimes, and froze them,” Turan was told by the expert in media law, Alasgar Mammadov. […]

“Alarming NGO network” will defend the rights of civil society

“The purpose of the “Alarming NGO network” is to settle by joint efforts the problems of NGOs facing sanctions authorities. Today, the authorities apply open sanctions against civil society. Thus, grants are not registered, and conducting activities is banned. Many NGOs leaders are summoned for questioning to the prosecutor, a member of “Alarming NGO network”, […]

“Alarm network of NGOs” created

A group of non-governmental organizations held a discussion on limiting the activities of NGOs in Azerbaijan and decided to create a structure “Alarm network of NGOs.” As stated in the statement received by Turan, the “Alarm network of NGOs” is concerned that the changes made ​​to the law will create serious limitations in practice non-governmental […]

Lawyer Khalid Bagirov responses to message from General Prosecutor’s Office May 30, 2014

In connection with yesterday’s statement of the press service of the Prosecutor General on the evasion of the spouses Arif and Leyla Yunus from the investigation and warning them about their possible involvement in criminal prosecution and arrest for that, as well as warning of their legal representative Khalid Bagirov, the latter made ​​the following […]

Why there is no “Asan khidmet” service in Nakhchivan?

Nakhchivan is a “laboratory” where  repressive tools  are practiced, and  then are applied to the rest of the country . What is happening now in Baku, a few years ago was used in Nakhchivan. The talk is about open pressure on political activists , illegal searches of homes, offices attacks on public figures , seizure […]

Head of OSCE meets with civil society in Azerbaijan

Swiss President and OSCE Chairman Didier Burkhalter who is on visit in Baku met with opposition leaders and representatives of NGOs. The meeting was attended by the leader of the “Musavat” Isa Gambar ; chairman of the Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli; chairman of the National Council Jamil Hasanli; executive director of the REAL  Movement […]

L.Yunus : Azerbaijani authorities seek to suppress critical voices finally

The Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD ) Leila Yunus held June 2 an online press conference at which she responded to questions related to the criminal case against the journalist Rauf Mirkadirov and around the problems of people’s diplomacy in the South Caucasus. At the press conference organized by the Azerbaijani-Armenian […]

Open letter to OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister and President of the Confederation Didier Burkhalter

Mr. President:  Under the leitmotif “Creating a Security Community for the Benefit of Everyone”, Switzerland wants to make a tangible contribution to, inter alia, “improving people’s lives, and strengthening the OSCE’s capacity to act”. The whole point of regional cooperation in the OSCE region is the guarantee of minimum standards of human rights protection for […]