Caspian Wire: COP29 Overshadowed by Crackdown on Dissent | November 2024
Restricted Rights of Political Prisoners Amid COP29
Between November 11 – 22, COP29 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, where world leaders and climate activists gathered to discuss global climate cooperation. During the same period, political prisoners faced intensified restrictions. Several detainees reported being denied access to their lawyers during court hearings, disruptions in communication with their families, and heightened physical violence in detention facilities.
- On November 7 and 18, the Khatai District Court and Court of Appeal rejected Ulvi Hasanli, Elnara Gasimova, and Farid Mehralizada—Abzas Media journalists’ motions for house arrest;
- On November 18 and 20, the courts extended the pretrial detention of human rights defenders Imran Aliyev and Anar Mammadli until February 2025 without substantial justifications;
- On November 19, the Sabail District Court extended minority rights researcher Igbal Abilov’s detention by another four months;
In all of the above-mentioned cases, courts approved all prosecutorial motions without providing clear reasoning, perpetuating what has long been in practice – the “rubber stamp” judicial process. The latter has been criticized by domestic human rights groups as such and, indicated by the European Court of Human Rights in similar cases in the past, where motions have been approved with little to no examination of legal reasoning.
Prominent Opposition Figure Barred From Travel Abroad
On November 20, political scientist and opposition figure Azer Gasimli was stopped at Baku airport and prevented from traveling abroad.
- Officials at Baku airport informed Gasimli that the Interior Ministry had imposed a travel ban without providing documentation or explanation.
- In 2016, Gasimli was subjected to a similar ban, which the European Court of Human Rights ruled unlawful.
Reports of Abuse Against Detained Economist Fazil Gasimov
Fazil Gasimov, a detained economist, has reportedly faced escalating mistreatment in custody during COP 29. On November 16, Gasimov protested the abrupt termination of a phone call with his family and was reportedly dragged to a cell from the medical unit of the prison facility.
- He was reportedly restrained and subjected to forced shaving, during which his nose began bleeding. He was forcibly transferred to the detention center;
- Gasimov faces currency counterfeiting charges. He was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation against Gubad Ibadoghlu, an academic and economist. However, his case was separated in April 2024;
- He has been on a hunger strike for 165 days, his health has severely deteriorated.
Desperate Acts of Protest Against Inhumane Conditions
On November 21, Nicad Ibrahim, a government critic held in Baku’s Investigation Detention Center No. 1, took drastic action by mutilating his own body in protest of his unlawful detention and poor treatment. Ibrahim reportedly used a mirror shard to cut his ears and throat, causing severe blood loss and swelling. His wife, Parvin Ibrahim, said her husband’s wrongful imprisonment and prolonged detention period without a fair trial forced him to take such drastic measures.
Ex-Political Prisoner Rearrested Shortly After Release
Ahsan Nuruzade, a former political prisoner and prominent member of the Muslim Unity Movement, was detained on October 26— just 20 days after his release. Nuruzade faces new, dubious drug-related charges, which he described as bogus.
- The court disregarded critical aspects of Nuruzade’s personal situation, who recently lost his wife and was caring for two children.
Severe Prison Conditions and Rights Violations
Severe limitations were imposed on the prisoners’ rights during COP29. Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, reported that her phone call with her mother was abruptly cut off after only two minutes, justified by prison management as “security monitoring”.
- Authorities canceled all in-person visits and removed foreign television channels, restricting access to communication and information;
- Vagifgizi, along with fellow journalists Elnara Gasimova and Nargiz Absalamova, faced physical violence after protesting poor ventilation and breathing issues in the prison. Injuries sustained during altercations highlight the harsh conditions faced by political prisoners.
Azerbaijani Queer Activists Deported from Turkey
On November 25, Azerbaijani queer rights activists Ali Malikov and Parvin Alakbarli were detained in Istanbul, Turkey, during a protest marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Witnesses reported that police used excessive force during the arrests, including handcuffing both of activists from behind and keeping them handcuffed for an extended period.
- Legal support was delayed, with lawyers only appointed 11 hours after the arrests. Lawyers confirm inadequate treatment and prolonged confinement;
- Ali Malikov, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, was reportedly denied essential medication on the grounds there was not a prescription for the medication;
- Following initial transfers between police stations, they were sent to a repatriation center, where communication delays and a lack of transparency raise concerns for their safety and well-being.
November marked one year since the start of the crackdown on dissent. The November 2024 updates reflect Azerbaijan’s repression and the judicial misuse of power to silence political prisoners, activists, and opposition figures.