GENEVA: Four United Nations special rapporteurs issued a statement on Monday demanding the release of Anar Mammadli, an Azerbaijani rights defender and climate advocate who has been detained for over a year. Mammadli was arrested on April 29, 2024, amid concerns that his detention undermines Azerbaijan's credibility as the host of the UN COP29 climate change conference held in November of the previous year.
As the chair of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre, Mammadli reported electoral irregularities in the tightly controlled, oil-rich nation during the February 2024 presidential elections. His arrest occurred shortly after he participated in events at the UN Human Rights Council, leading the special rapporteurs to suggest that his detention may be retaliatory in nature.
“Defending human rights should never be considered a crime,” the experts stated. They expressed serious concerns regarding Mammadli's prosecution on what they allege are spurious smuggling charges, which could lead to a sentence of up to eight years in prison.
The special rapporteurs emphasized that civic participation, independent election monitoring, and engagement with international mechanisms form the bedrock of democratic societies. They warned that criminalizing such activities threatens the rule of law.
In light of these concerns, the rapporteurs called on the Azerbaijani government to uphold due process, ensure Mammadli's fundamental rights, and provide him with necessary medical care. They also urged Baku to cease all forms of harassment against rights activists.
UN special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to analyze and report on various human rights issues and do not speak on behalf of the UN itself.
