Caspian Wire: Continuous Crackdown on Dissent | September 2024
Peace activists become new target of year-long crackdown on dissent
In late August, Azerbaijani authorities arrested Bahruz Samadov, a researcher and political analyst, on charges of treason. Samadov, known for his advocacy of peaceful relations with Armenia and his critical writings on government policy, faces up to 20 years or life in prison if convicted. On August 28, the Baku Court of Appellate kept him under custody. Bakhruz Samedov, during his court hearing, asserted his innocence, emphasizing that he is a staunch advocate for peace and has consistently opposed war and the loss of human life. Pro-government media have since circulated smear campaigns against Samadov, seeking to undermine his reputation.
His arrest, part of a broader crackdown on government critics ahead of the September 1 parliamentary elections, has drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations and academic communities, including Charles University, where Samadov is a PhD candidate. Human rights advocates and observers have denounced Samadov’s arrest as politically motivated, linking it to his critical articles on Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh policies and his connections with Armenian activists. Several other activists and journalists close to Samadov were also detained and released in the days following his arrest, including journalist Samad Shikhi, researcher Javidan Aghayev and lawyer Fariz Namazli. Samad Shikhi and Javidan Aghayev were detained at the airport and followingly were informed of travel bans. Samadov’s arrest also follows the arrest of another activist and member of the Talysh ethnic minority in July 2024 – Igbal Aghayev who is also accused of having contacts with Armenians and charged with treason.
International organizations, including Human Rights Watch, the European Union and United States Embassy in Baku, have called for Samadov’s release and expressed concerns over the continued targeting of independent voices in Azerbaijan. Samadov, who has denied the charges, described himself as a peaceful advocate who has never betrayed his country.
Investigative Journalists Face New Charges as Their Detention in Remand is Prolonged
Azerbaijan’s Abzas Media journalists, arrested on dubious charges, now face additional accusations in what human rights organizations have labeled a severe crackdown on independent media. Six journalists and economist Farid Mehralizadeh, initially detained on currency smuggling charges, have been hit with new offenses such as illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering by an organized group, and tax evasion. Local and international human rights groups have condemned the arrests as politically motivated. Many view the accusations as retribution for the outlet’s investigative reporting on high-level government corruption.
On September 7, a Baku court extended the pre-trial detention of Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Hafiz Babaly, and Nargiz Absalamova until December 20, further straining the credibility of Azerbaijan’s justice system. On September 9, lawyer in the case Zibeyda Sadigova told media that the preliminary investigation has been completed in the case. Journalists now await their trials as these charges increase the potential sentence from 8 to 12 years, further intensifying concerns over the arbitrary nature of the arrests.
Parliamentary Elections Attracts International Criticism Over Restricted Freedoms and Lack of Genuine Political Competition
Azerbaijan’s early parliamentary elections on September 1, 2024, drew significant local and international criticism due to widespread allegations of fraud, political repression, and the stifling of fundamental freedoms. The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) secured a vast majority of seats in parliament amid a restrictive legal framework that severely limited freedom of expression and political participation. Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights International Observation Mission highlighted outdated electoral regulations, lack of transparency, lack of genuine competition, widespread E-day irregularities and intimidation to some candidates. The dominance of pro-government candidates, combined with a lack of pluralism, underscored the entrenched nature of political power in the country. The Central Election Commission has declared that it will seriously investigate the matters while mentioning that violations occurred in an insignificant part of the polling stations thus not affecting overall electoral integrity.
International reactions were equally critical, with the OSCE/ODIHR mission condemning the restrictive environment and the US government calling for reforms to protect fundamental freedoms. Local election observation organization – Election Observation Coalition also published a preliminary statement criticizing the restrictive environment, lack of transparency and competition. The elections also unfolded against the background of continuing repression of civil society and media representatives, with among others well-known election monitor Anar Mammadli, under arrest as well.