Azerbaijani civil society appeals to Council of Europe over human rights

Five Azerbaijani civil society organizations have issued a joint appeal to the Council of Europe regarding the state of human rights and the implementation of rulings by the European Court of Human Rights in Azerbaijan. The organizations called for more principled and consistent steps from the Council of Europe to ensure the government adheres to its membership obligations.

The statement highlights concerns over political imprisonments, the restriction of civil society activities, and the effectiveness of international human rights mechanisms. The organizations report that there are at least 328 political prisoners in the country and note an intensification of political persecution since 2022. They also raised concerns regarding allegations of torture, ill-treatment in detention centers, and lack of access to medical services.

Regarding judicial compliance, the organizations stated that 68 percent of court decisions related to Azerbaijan have not yet been implemented.

In response to recent European Parliament resolutions, local perspectives criticize the parliament's stance as biased and an interference in Azerbaijan's sovereign state organs. Critics argue that the European Parliament's actions are politically motivated and fail to address human rights violations occurring within European Union member states themselves.