Campaign to End Repression Azerbaijan 🇦🇿

⚠️New report 🇪🇺⚖️🇦🇿 The EU shifted from a values-based approach to a partnership shaped by energy & trade, as Azerbaijan lives its most intense crackdown. Over 400 political prisoners. Media closed. Civil society dismantled. EU leverage left unused. 🔗 free-anar.site/report-eu-azer…

We wholeheartedly welcome the pardon of 250 political prisoners in Belarus as a result of negotiations led by the USA, including our friends and colleagues from @viasna96 @FreeViasna 🤍❤️🤍

The US, UK, EU, and Israel must step up pressure on the Azerbaijani government to release political prisoners. It is a disgrace that at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos one panel hosts a Belarusian opposition leader while another gives a platform to Azerbaijan’s authoritarian ruler. Human rights cannot be selective. We refuse to remain victims of geopolitical rivalries.

We echo the concern of @CPJ_Eurasia about the surveillance and threats on journalist and human rights defender Emin Huseynov 🇦🇿 The practices described by @EminHuseynovAZ are clearly in line with Azerbaijan's transnational repression, attacking dissidents in exile.

Total repression, step by step 🇦🇿 One more person targeted, again a trade union activist, Sara Rahimova ⤵️

They think there’s no video evidence of the behaviour the Azerbaijani security adopted, violently attacking peaceful protesters ⤵️

The security detail of President Ilham Aliyev assaulted Azerbaijani protesters in Washington as they gathered to confront him on Thursday. The beatings, which took place in plain view of US police officers, were captured on film and widely circulated on social media.

Abroad, like at home… washingtonpost.com/world/2026/02/…

In a world increasingly unsafe for democracy and civic rights, defending human rights defenders is a test of whether societies still accept independent civic engagement as a public good. Top 10 Global Human Rights Trends now online ahead of #HRC61: #kpg_17808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">humanrightscompass.org/#kpg_17808

🚨 One more strong voice for justice. U.S. Representative @RepGabeAmo [D-RI-1] is now the 56th co-sponsor of H.Res.120, condemning Azerbaijan’s political persecution of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu & calling for his immediate & unconditional release. ✊ #FreeGubad ⛔#StopOppression

Ali Karimli has now been in detention for 75 days. A court has prolonged his pre-trial detention. ➡️ Use and share our portrait image to show solidarity with him and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan: free-anar.site/political-pris… ✊🇦🇿

The period of the preventive detention measure imposed on PFPA leader Ali Karimli has been extended by 4 months today by a decision of the Sabail District Court. Ali Karimli was arrested on November 29, 2025, on fabricated charges and is being held in the investigation detention facility of the State Security Service.

Unlawfully detained, woman journalist Aysel Umudova faces sexual violence. she has reported being subjected to sexual harassment, degrading conditions of detention, intimidation and coercion. We call for her immediate and unconditional release. 🔗 free-anar.site/unlawfully-det…

Today in Baku, another hearing took place in the trial of human rights defender Anar Mammadli. All the theatre of justice is there, except justice itself. Anar Mammadli should be released immediately and unconditionally. #FreeAnar

Unlawfully detained, woman journalist Ulviyya Ali Guliyeva faces sexual violence. We call for her immediate and unconditional release. 🔗 free-anar.site/unlawfully-det…

Continued deterioration of Azerbaijan’s poor human rights record, documented by @hrw in its annual report 🇦🇿 The government intensified its crackdown on media, political opponents, civil society, silencing dissent, further entrenching a climate of fear. hrw.org/world-report/2…

We joined NGOs: sexual harassment, rape threats, ill-treatment of journalists Aysel Umudova and Ulviyya (Ali) Guliyeva ⚠️ Release them; investigate and prosecute; provide independent medical care 🇦🇿⚖️ 🔗 free-anar.site/unlawfully-det…

#Azerbaijan🇦🇿: Major win for media freedom ✊🏿 @ECHR_CEDH ruled that the prosecution of journalist Khadija Ismayilova was intended to silence her journalism. We welcome the verdict and urge authorities to acquit her outright. Let journalists do their job! article19.org/resources/azer…

News from Azerbaijan: Tomorrow at 12:40, a court hearing for political prisoner Bahruz Samadov will take place at the Baku Court of Appeal. Journalist and political prisoner Nurlan Libre has been on a hunger strike for 18 days. Two more members of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party have been arrested.

A Committee to Defend the Rights of Ali Karimli Has Been Established The Committee Appeals to the Azerbaijani Authorities and the International Community Today, a Committee to Defend the Rights of Ali Karimli, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (PFPA), was established and held its first meeting. The initial composition includes many public and political figures living both in Azerbaijan and abroad, and the list remains open to those who wish to join. At the first meeting, Jamil Hasanli and Leyla Yunus were elected as co-chairs of the Defense Committee, and the main directions of its activities were discussed. The Committee also adopted the text of its first statement. The statement condemns the long-standing persecution and repression of Ali Karimli and the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party by the authorities. The Committee demands the immediate release of Ali Karimli and PFPA functionary Mammad Ibrahim, who was arrested together with him, as well as the release of Gultekin Hajibeyli, who is being detained in Turkey in connection with this fabricated criminal case. It also calls for the termination of this criminal case and an end to political arrests in Azerbaijan. The Committee further appeals to the international community, urging it not to turn a blind eye to Azerbaijan’s slide from authoritarianism into full dictatorship; to the imprisonment of politicians, public figures, and journalists for their activities; and to the unlawful actions of Azerbaijani authorities aimed at enabling Ilham Aliyev to achieve absolute power over the country. The Committee calls on the international community to support the democratic camp in order to halt the deepening anti-democratic processes in Azerbaijan; to make every possible effort to secure the release of political prisoners, including Ali Karimli; and to apply all possible pressure and measures to open the way for democratic processes in Azerbaijan.

The "Most Resilient Journalist 2025" award has been presented to Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) by Free Press Unlimited. The organization announced the news today, February 3rd, during the "Free Press Live" event, stating on their official website: "The Most Resilient Journalist 2025 award is presented to Azerbaijani journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva, who continues her work despite severe repression and risks to her personal life. At the time of receiving this award, Ulviyya has already been unjustly detained for months in the Baku Detention Center. Nevertheless, despite being denied medical assistance, she persistently continues her activities from prison—reporting information, documenting human rights violations, interviewing other political prisoners, and ensuring that the truth is not silenced. The jury highly commends Ulviyya’s extraordinary personal and professional courage, her unwavering commitment to journalism despite physical violence, imprisonment, and the loss of her official platform, as well as the significant public impact of her work. Even behind bars, Ulviyya continues to inform, resist, and inspire." In a letter written from prison, Ulviyya shared her thoughts on being honored with this award: "I greet you all from the Baku Pre-trial Detention Center, where I have been illegally detained for the past nine months. I was honored with awards for my journalistic work while I was free. However, I must admit that the award I received while in prison has moved me even more deeply. For someone in captivity, this is a tremendous source of motivation. Since the age of 17, I have strived to contribute to human rights and serve the truth. Even knowing which country I live in—and that such activity in Azerbaijan often results in arrest—nothing could deter me from this path. I continued my work even after March 2025, when the 'Voice of America' radio station, where I had worked for six years, was closed down. I shared news, reports, and information regarding human rights violations in Azerbaijan through my personal social media accounts, without any compensation. Because I refused to cease my journalistic activities, I was arrested on May 6, 2025, on trumped-up charges. During the arrest, police officers struck me seven times on the head and tore out my hair. Despite this, I continue my journalism even from within the prison walls: I interview other political prisoners, write articles, and shed light on rights violations occurring inside the detention center. The writer Henry Thoreau said that under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just human is also a prison. If anyone thinks that our influence will wane in prison, that our voices will no longer be heard, or that we cannot struggle as before within these walls, they are mistaken. They understand neither how much stronger truth is than lies, nor how effectively and skillfully someone who has witnessed even a little injustice can fight against it. In a world where truth is manipulated, distorted, and traded for money, we continue to reclaim the truth, even from behind bars. I thank everyone standing in solidarity with me—my friends, my family, and especially my partner who has given me unparalleled support during this period. Long live the free press, long live independent journalists, and long live all those who refuse to bow to oppression".