The US State Department released its annual report on the human rights situation in the world for 2021.
The section on Azerbaijan states that there are serious human rights violations in the country. The report cites illegal or arbitrary killings, torture, ill-treatment by law enforcement, illegal or arbitrary arrests, political prisoners, political repression of individuals abroad, police violence against individuals for sexual orientation, and severe prison conditions.
In addition, the US Department of State's report includes widespread problems with the independence of the judiciary in Azerbaijan, violence against journalists, including harassment and arrest of some journalists on suspicion, restrictions on internet freedom, blocking of some websites, freedom of assembly and association. de facto bans, severe restrictions on political participation, government corruption, and child labour.
According to the report, in 2020, after 44 days of intense fighting involving Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Armenian backed separatists, there were occasional clashes along the border, which in some cases resulted in deaths and arrests. In addition to acknowledging the existence of 41 Armenian prisoners, the Azerbaijani government has denied allegations that an additional 25 Armenian servicemen disappeared after being detained.
According to the report, according to Azerbaijani law, only members of the Bar Association should participate in legal proceedings, and despite the increase in the number of lawyers from 1833 to 2,132 last year, the vast majority of new members do not participate in human rights cases for fear of being removed from the bar.
The report also notes that Azerbaijani non-governmental organisations believe that there are 122 political prisoners in the country. Although 625 people were released because of the presidential pardon on March 18, 2021, human rights activists say only 38 of them were political prisoners.
The US State Department's 2021 report recognises that the Azerbaijani government has acknowledged the Tartar case, in which more than 100 individuals were subjected to various forms of torture, killing eight people. It is reported that in 2017, more than 100 servicemen and citizens were arrested on charges of spying for Armenia, and 27 of them were still in custody until the end of last year. It is added that some of these people face up to 20 years in prison and are considered political prisoners.
In particular, the report notes that in December, the Milli Majlis (Parliament) quickly adopted a new media law without considering proposals from civil society, independent journalists, and the international community.
The State Department report states that the Azerbaijani government has not punished most human rights abusers and that impunity remains a problem.
