In its intervention at the United Nations Human Rights Council, HRHF welcomed the participation of the Republic of Azerbaijan to its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and underlined that Azerbaijani civil society has also participated actively, including a broad coalition of independent non-governmental organisations around the Azerbaijan Human Rights House.

“The presidential elections will take place on 9 October 2013 in Azerbaijan. Its UPR cycle has therefore taken place at a critical moment for the country, said Anna Innocenti, HRHF’s International Advocacy Officer, reading HRHF’s statement at the Council. We witnessed a heavy crackdown against civil society during this pre-election period, including against journalists, human rights defenders and political activists.”

As recommended by numerous States during the review on 30 April 2013, the Human Rights House Foundation calls upon the authorities of Azerbaijan “to put and end to direct and indirect restrictions on freedom of expression” (Poland) and “to ensure that journalist and media workers are able to work freely and without governmental intimidation” (Germany).

Azerbaijan must “ensure that all human rights violations against human rights defenders and journalists are investigated effectively and transparently, with perpetrators being promptly brought to justice, including pending unresolved cases requiring urgent attention” (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

We further call upon Azerbaijan to implement the recommendation presented by Austria on the reform of its law on defamation, in conformity with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and to refrain from initiating defamation lawsuits against civil society activists and journalists. 

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