< Azerbaijan
Ongoing projects
Travel ban imposed of the Azerbaijani journalists
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights presented an amicus curiae brief in the case Ganbarova and Others v. Azerbaijan before the European Court of Human Rights. It concerns the Azerbaijani journalists that have been subjected to travel bans imposed on them by the authorities.
01.02.2018more
Freedom of media in Azerbaijan: statement sent to Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has sent a statement to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers concerning Azerbaijan’s failure to perform obligations arising from the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights that refer to long-term prison sentences imposed against journalists convicted for defamation.
25.01.2018more
Unconstitutional future of Azerbaijan
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has proposed a number of amendments to the country’s constitution. The proposed changes are inspired by the situation and events in Turkey. The people of Azerbaijan are to vote on the future of their supreme law in the national referendum scheduled for 26 September 2016. However, there are concerns […]
05.09.2016more
ECtHR: activists from Azerbaijan subjected to inhuman treatment
On 2 June the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgment concerning Azerbaijani human rights activists, Leyla and Arif Yunus. The activists were detained in connection with their activity during summer holiday of 2014. They were presented with fabricated charges of tax evasion and fraud.
02.06.2016more
Azerbaijani journalist arrested and jailed for 3 years for political reasons: opinion for the ECtHR
Human rights defenders and journalists from Azerbaijan who were persecuted and arrested in 2014 filed applications with the European Court of Human Rights. Their applications are now pending hearing. The applicants include Rauf Mirgadirov, a journalist covering the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
20.05.2016more
Azerbaijani human rights activists released from prison
On 17 March 2016, just before the upcoming traditional holiday celebrating the coming of spring (Novruz), the Azerbaijani President granted pardon to a number of human rights activists.
17.03.2016more
Another Azerbaijani human rights activists convicted
A Criminal Court of Baku has sentenced Leyla and Arif Yunus, Azerbaijani human rights defenders, to 8.5 and 7 years in prison, respectively. They have been accused of illegal business activities, tax evasion and fraud.
14.08.2015more
On respect for ownership in Azerbaijan
Over the last years the standards of human rights protection in Azerbaijan fell considerably. This is manifested not only by limitations of “classic” political rights but also in arbitrary violations of ownership. As part of the “Analysis and Recommendations” series the HFHR has published an opinion statement concerning the issue of respect for the ownership […]
13.05.2015more
Azerbaijani human rights defender sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison
The Regional Court in Baku has sentenced Intigam Aliyev to seven-and-a-half years in prison. The Court found the lawyer guilty of tax evasion, abuse of power, using his position for personal gains and an illegal business activity.
22.04.2015more
Independent Azerbaijani journalist arrested
Khadija Ismayilova, an independent investigative journalist, was arrested today in Azerbaijan. Ms Ismayilova worked for a number of news outlets, including the independent channel Maydan TV and Radio Free Europe (Radio Azadliq). In 2008-2010 she was the editor-in-chief of the latter news organisation. In her reporting she covered cases of corruption and abuse of power […]
05.12.2014more
Is it not a shame to play football for Azerbaijani money? HFHR’s letter to Atletico Madrid
The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has sent a letter to the management of Atletico Madrid in which it has raised the issue of the club’s funding by the Azerbaijani authorities. In the HFHR’s opinion Atletico Madrid players contribute to the promotion of President Ilham Aliyev’s regime by appearing in shirts with the slogan “Azerbaijan. […]
20.08.2014more
New arrests of Azerbaijani human rights defenders
Last week Intigam Aliyev, a well-known Azerbaijani lawyer and human rights defender, was arrested.
08.08.2014more
Amendments to the Constitution of Azerbaijan and democratic rules. Legal opinion
Human Rights Club of Azerbaijan and the Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights on 10 August 2013 present the legal opinion on presidential elections in Azerbaijan. The opinion has been prepared by distinguished constitutional law scholar Professor Wojciech Sadurski.
20.08.2013more
HFHR intervenes in case of Azerbaijani lawyer
The Helsinki Foundation sent a letter to the Chair of Poland’s Bar Association and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Azerbaijan to discuss the case of Aslan Ismayilov, the Azerbaijani advocate deprived of the license to practise by the Azerbaijani Bar Association.
13.05.2013more
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