In Azerbaijan, the arbitrary arrest of human rights defenders Bashir Suleymanli and Mammad Alpay has raised serious concerns about civil liberties. Suleymanli leads the Institute for Citizens’ Rights, while Alpay heads the Election Monitoring Alliance, both key players in advocating for human rights and fair electoral processes. Their arrests on 14 March 2025 followed searches at their homes by the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, where they faced allegations of receiving illicit funds from foreign entities, despite local regulations allowing such transactions if properly taxed.
Following extensive interrogations, they were charged with multiple offences under the Criminal Code, including forgery and abuse of power. At a hearing, both men insisted the charges stemmed from their human rights work, a sentiment dismissed by the Baku Court of Appeal which upheld their detention. If found guilty, they risk lengthy prison sentences, reflective of a broader wave of judicial harassment facing civil society in Azerbaijan since 2014, amidst ongoing repression designed to stifle activism and discourage human rights defence.
Previously, Suleymanli had endured a stint in prison that lasted three and a half years due to similarly dubious charges, before receiving a presidential pardon. Alpay’s situation has worsened, with increased scrutiny and cyberattacks targeting his communication tools undertaken in recent months, further demonstrating the hostile environment for human rights defenders. The Observatory has condemned their detentions as tactics aimed at silencing crucial human rights voices in Azerbaijan.
In response, calls for the immediate release of the two defenders have been issued, along with demands for protection against judicial harassment and an investigation into the motives behind their arrests. Additionally, there is a pressing need to uphold the right to free expression as stipulated in international human rights agreements. This dire situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by activists in Azerbaijan and the urgent need for international support to safeguard their rights.
Bashir Suleymanli and Mammad Alpay, prominent human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, were arbitrarily arrested on 14 March 2025. They face serious charges linked to their activism, amidst a wider pattern of repression against civil society in the country. The Observatory has condemned these actions and calls for their immediate release, urging the authorities to uphold human rights and prevent further judicial harassment.
Bashir Suleymanli and Mammad Alpay’s arbitrary arrests mirror a concerning trend of escalating repression against civil society in Azerbaijan. Their detentions are not merely individual injustices; they represent an alarming signal of the state’s contempt for human rights advocacy. Immediate action to secure their release and protect all human rights defenders in Azerbaijan is vital to ensuring the preservation of civil liberties in the region.
Original Source: www.fidh.org
