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Since 2023, Azerbaijan has been conducting its most comprehensive crackdown against civil society in its post-independence history. With the majority of human rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers in exile or behind bars, the few that remain are unable to operate in a civic space that defenders describe as transitioning from “shrinking” to “closing”. In 2025, Human Rights House Foundation discussed the situation with representatives of Azerbaijani civil society in exile, as well as those who remain despite severe and increasing risks.

Azerbaijan’s Mehman Huseynov has reached hundreds of thousands of people through self-publishing, with his trademark humour and refusal to be silenced in the face of a media crackdown. The millions of views that he has achieved have come amidst a hostile environment for independent media, and reprisals against him and his organisation.

Azerbaijani anti-corruption video blogger Mehman Huseynov has been released from prison, after serving a two-year sentence for defamation. This followed many years of repression by the authorities aimed at silencing him.

On 10 January 2019, Human Rights House Foundation wrote to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, appealing for his personal intervention in the case of imprisoned Azerbaijani photojournalist, video blogger, and human rights defender Mehman Huseynov.

Some 41 member and partner NGOs of 13 Human Rights Houses issue a joint letter calling for urgent action from the international community to ensure the life, health, and rights of imprisoned Azerbaijani photojournalist, video blogger, and human rights defender Mehman Huseynov.

The Azerbaijani video journalist found no justice in his trial for defamation, and in August his first application for conditional release was rejected. His so far unsuccessful appeals against this rejection include an accuser not summoned to court and warnings against informing people of their rights. Such events are a repeat of the injustices that took place during his arrest and trial.

Since anti-corruption blogger Mehman Huseynov was sentenced for defamation in March 2017, HRHF has been asking, “when will he find justice?”. With his appeals inside the country now exhausted, we see once again that little justice can be found for human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.

Mehman Huseynov’s appeals for justice and freedom continue.

On World Press Freedom Day, 32 human rights organisations, including Human Rights House Foundation, issue a joint statement calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mehman Huseynov.