Human rights activists have called for the protection of Azerbaijani political emigrants from persecution in Baku.

Since the beginning of 2025, criminal cases have been opened in absentia in Azerbaijan against 24 government critics abroad. Human rights activists have called for international protection for Azerbaijani political emigrants.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in March, six political emigrants were charged in absentia in Baku on criminal charges. Gurban Mammadov, head of the Azerfredoom YouTube channel; Tural Sadigli, head of the Azad Soz YouTube channel; bloggers Muhammad Mirzali, Elshad Mammadov, and Gabil Mammadov; and Ilgar Hajiyev, entrepreneur and former head of the major Azerbaijani company Akkord, were summoned for questioning in Baku. On November 13, Sevinj Osmangizi, a journalist who had left for the United States and the head of the YouTube channel Osmanqızı TV, was summoned for questioning by the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan. If she failed to appear, the office threatened her with a verdict in absentia on charges of incitement against the state and calls for mass unrest. On November 22, the trial began in Baku against bloggers Tural Sadigli, Elshad Mammadov, Gurban Mammadov, and Suleyman Suleymanli, as well as Ordukhan Teymurkhan (Babirowa), Orkhan Agayev, and Rafael Piriyev, all living abroad.

The "End Repression in Azerbaijan" human rights campaign, organized by Azerbaijani and foreign activists in mid-2024 to draw international attention to politically motivated persecution in the lead-up to the COP29 climate conference in Baku, published a report today on the intensification of the in absentia persecution of Azerbaijani political emigrants. In absentia criminal cases have become the primary tool for persecuting journalists, activists, and human rights defenders abroad for criticizing the Azerbaijani government, according to campaign expert and lawyer Samad Rahimli. "Trials in absentia, public summonses to investigations and court hearings via television, threats of issuing international arrest warrants, and abuse of extradition request mechanisms are forms of pressure on government critics in exile, means of intimidation, attempts to restrict their freedom of movement, and create risks to their travel," Rahimli told a Caucasian Knot correspondent, commenting on the study. Cross-border repression also includes violence abroad, pressure through extradition requests, digital attacks, and attacks on relatives within the country, the report states, citing documents from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. According to Rahimli, "Azerbaijan uses all these tactics to varying degrees."

The report identifies two waves of summonses for foreign government critics to Azerbaijan: 13 individuals were summoned in March-April 2025, and another 10 in November. One additional person was summoned in August.

Victims of repression, Rahimli notes, are typically first publicly informed of the opening of a criminal case and summoned to the Prosecutor General's Office. They are then tried in absentia and sentenced.

The report specifically examines cases against journalists Sevinj Osmangizi and Ganimat Zahid, historian Altay Goyushov, bloggers Gabil Mammadov, Tural Sadigli, and Muhammad Mirzali, political commentator Arastun Orujlu, and other prominent figures. Most of them are accused of openly calling for action against the state and inciting unrest.

Samed Rahimli noted that for many critics living in exile, these trials pose a real threat both in their countries of residence and during international travel.

"Even if extradition requests are denied, the presence of politically motivated notices can lead to interrogations, temporary detention for clarification, or restrictions on movement." This practice can also lead to pressure on family members remaining in Azerbaijan and further increases the “chilling effect” on activism, media activity, and public criticism abroad,” he noted.

As the report emphasizes, criminal trials in absentia “are a deliberate strategy to extend domestic repression beyond the country’s borders through the malicious use of legal systems, extradition channels, and international policing mechanisms.”

“This strategy fits into a broader trend, along with Azerbaijan’s tightening control over civic space within the country, while also targeting individuals continuing their activities from abroad,” the campaign lawyer noted.

Countries hosting political exiles from Azerbaijan, as well as international institutions, must recognize these cases as cross-border repression and implement appropriate protection mechanisms, the study concludes.