The UN Special Rapporteur called for the release of Azerbaijani human rights activist Mammadli

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of association and assembly Gina Romero has contacted Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev regarding the case of Azerbaijani human rights activist Anar Mammadli.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on September 22, a hearing was held at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, where Anar Mammadli, director of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDSC), delivered a defense speech . He pointed out to the court the political nature of his criminal prosecution and compared it to Soviet-era repression. The court refused to release journalist Anar Abdullah, a defendant in the same case.

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of association and assembly, Gina Romero, sent a letter to Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev “regarding the ongoing criminal prosecution, prolonged pre-trial detention, and excessive criminal charges” against Anar Mammadli, Chairman of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center.

In a message posted on Romero's X social media account (https://x.com/Ginitastar/status/2000765395347677327), the rapporteur stressed that she was "deeply concerned" about the alleged violations of Anar Mammadli's right to a fair trial and the restriction of his access to adequate medical care.

"I am gravely concerned by allegations of violations of Mr. Mammadli's right to a fair trial and denial of access to adequate medical care. All indications are that the goal is to punish and silence him for his work monitoring elections and defending human rights," Romero continued.

She also noted that Mammadli had previously been convicted on similar charges. "There are striking similarities between the current prosecution of Mr. Mammadli and his 2013 criminal case, in which the ECHR found violations of his rights. The criminal prosecution of Mr. Mammadli appears to be part of an ongoing pattern of restricting freedoms," the UN Special Rapporteur noted.

She called on the Prosecutor General to comply with Azerbaijan's legal obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and to ensure that Mammadli is not subjected to punishment and arbitrary arrest in retaliation for his legitimate work in the field of human rights protection and election observation.

Romero also demanded Anar Mammadli's immediate release from custody, immediate access to medical care, the dropping of all criminal charges against him related to his civil society activities, and the provision of effective legal protection and compensation."

She recalled that, “according to international standards, NGOs (registered and unregistered, note G. Romero) have the right to access and manage resources, including financial and other resources from abroad, and that this activity should not serve as grounds for criminal prosecution.”

The rapporteur stressed that “civil society must carry out its legitimate activities in the context of elections, including monitoring and documenting violations of the electoral process, without intimidation, pressure, retaliation or undue restrictions.”

"In accordance with international standards, associations—registered and unregistered—have the right to access and manage resources, including from abroad, and should not be subject to criminal prosecution. Unregistered associations and their associated organizations should also not be subject to criminal prosecution," the UN rapporteur stated.

In a conversation with a Caucasian Knot correspondent, Mammadli's lawyer, Javad Javadov, noted that the human rights activist's trial is ongoing. He also noted that despite his ongoing health problems, Mammadli is denied access to quality medical care, including examinations at a specialized civilian clinic.

As a reminder, in May, Anar Mammadli was charged with new charges: illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion as part of an organized group, and document forgery. The case has been referred to court, and the defense maintains Mammadli's innocence. On July 1, the court refused to transfer Mammadli to house arrest or exclude evidence obtained from his phone and computer.

Why Abzas Media has displeased the Azerbaijani authorities

Seven employees of the online publication Abzas Media1 in June, they were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years. They denied the charges in court, emphasizing that they were being persecuted for their professional activities and their investigation of corruption. On September 9, an appeals court upheld  the sentence.

The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest level in 2024 since the country's 23-year membership in the Council of Europe, according to the Caucasian Knot report " Key Points on the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan ." However, Azerbaijani authorities  deny the existence  of political prisoners in the country.