The civilian population suffered widespread human rights abuses as a result of heavy fighting that erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh in September. Conflict-related violence led to deaths, injuries, destruction of livelihoods and displacement. Authorities intensified...

Academics Igbal Abilov and Bahruz Samadov were arrested on fabricated charges including “high treason” in retaliation of their academic writings and activism. Both remain in custody and are not allowed visitors or communication with their families. If found guilty they face lengthy prison terms of...

On 14 December 2023, the Azerbaijani authorities arrested a prominent opposition figure and unrelenting government critic, Tofig Yagublu, on spurious forgery and fraud charges. A wave of arrests in Azerbaijan that has been targeting independent journalists has now come for one of the country’s most...

Anar Mammadli, a prominent human rights defender and climate advocate, was arrested on 29 April 2024 by the Azerbaijani authorities on bogus charges amid a continuing crackdown on civil society activists. On 30 April 2024, he was placed in pre-trial detention, facing charges of conspiracy to...

On 22 April 2024, after 274 days in detention, prominent Azerbaijani economist and political activist Gubad Ibadoghlu was moved to house arrest. The decision to transfer him to house arrest was based on his deteriorating health, including diabetes and a heart condition. However, he continues to be...

At least fourteen journalists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on apparent fabricated charges in retaliation for their critical reporting. Several of them have reportedly been subjected to ill-treatment. They should be immediately released.

Gubad Ibadoghlu is a renowned economist and political activist. On 23 July 2023, the Azerbaijani authorities detained him on fabricated charges in an apparent retaliation for his criticism of the government. He suffers from serious health issues including diabetes and heart conditions. Gubad...

Gubad Ibadoghlu, a renowned political economist and civil activist, was detained on 23 July 2023 on fabricated charges of the production, acquisition, or sale of counterfeit money by an organized group. His arrest and prosecution are an apparent retaliation for his criticism of the government and...

Gubad Ibadoghlu, a renowned political economist and civil activist, was detained on 23 July 2023 on fabricated charges of the production, acquisition, or sale of counterfeit money by an organized group. His arrest and prosecution are an apparent retaliation for his criticism of the government and...

Azerbaijani human rights defender Elchin Mammad was sentenced to four years in prison on 14 October. He was arrested on 30 March on trumped up charges of theft and illegal possession of weapons and has remained behind bars since. Elchin Mammad is appealing the conviction. He is a prisoner of...

Azerbaijani opposition politician and journalist Tofig Yagublu was sentenced to four years and three months in prison on 3 September on trumped up charges. He started a hunger strike in protest and on 12 September he was transferred from a detention centre to a hospital after his health...

Opposition activist Agil Humbatov was released from a psychiatric hospital in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, on 1 July. He was forcibly placed there on 2 April after he criticised the authorities’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opposition activist Agil Humbatov has been held in psychiatric detention in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, and injected with unknown drugs without his consent since 2 April after he criticised the authorities’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 2 June, his forced hospitalization was extended for...