United Nations experts on Monday expressed deep concern over the ongoing detention of Azerbaijani human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who has been held for over a year on what many observers allege are politically motivated charges.
The group of UN special rapporteurs urged Azerbaijani authorities to uphold Mammadli’s fundamental rights, including access to a fair trial and adequate medical care. In a joint statement, they said, “There are serious concerns that Mammadli’s detention and prosecution may be in retaliation for his human rights work and his engagement with UN mechanisms.” The experts also called on Azerbaijan to “end all forms of intimidation against human rights defenders.”
Mammadli, chair of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), was arrested on April 29, 2024, following investigations related to alleged smuggling and money laundering. His arrest came shortly after EMDS published a report highlighting irregularities during Azerbaijan’s February 2024 presidential election. If convicted, Mammadli faces a prison sentence ranging from seven to twelve years.
UN experts issued a formal letter in February 2025 requesting clarification on the charges and the legal basis for Mammadli’s detention. They also raised urgent concerns about his health, which is reportedly deteriorating. Azerbaijani authorities responded by denying any political motivation, asserting that Mammadli had been detained solely for criminal activities.
This is not the first time Mammadli has faced legal pressure from the Azerbaijani government. In 2013, he was arrested and later sentenced on similar charges. In 2018, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Mammadli’s detention violated Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to liberty and security. Despite the judgment, UN experts criticized Azerbaijan for failing to implement the court’s decision.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty echoed these concerns, urging Baku to align its laws and practices with European human rights standards. He stated:
“I call on the Azerbaijani authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure that all laws and practices in connection with the freedoms of association, assembly and expression and the situation of human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists in the country comply with relevant Council of Europe human rights standards, including by fully implementing the relevant judgments of the Court.”
Human rights organizations continue to document widespread repression in Azerbaijan, including the arbitrary detention of political activists. As of December 2024, at least 331 individuals were reportedly held as political prisoners. The European Parliament has also condemned Azerbaijan’s treatment of civil society and called for stronger measures to protect human rights defenders in the country.
Excerpts sourced from a JURIST article by Matteo Piccioli, Maastricht University Faculty of Law, Netherlands.
Flame Towers of Baku on Flickr by Wiith
