Baku Initiative Group: Azerbaijan emerges as global hub for anti-colonial movements

Azerbaijan is emerging as a global platform for people fighting for independence and freedom, according to Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG).

Speaking at the international conference “Colonialism, Neocolonialism and Their Consequences,” Abbasov highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing role in the global decolonisation movement.

“BIG actively supports the fight against colonialism and neo-colonialism, bringing the realities of (neo)colonialism to the international community,” he said.

Abbasov noted that over the past two years, the Baku Initiative Group has organised more than 40 high-level international conferences and events across major global venues, including the UN headquarters in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, as well as in cities like Rome, Istanbul, and Baku. “Baku is known as a centre of dialogue on decolonisation,” he emphasised.

Among BIG’s key milestones, Abbasov cited the hosting of the first Congress of Independence Movements in Baku in July 2024. He also recalled that the group has been actively involved in activities under the framework of COP29, an initiative linked to decolonisation advocacy.

In addition to its events, BIG also focuses on research and policy analysis.

“To date, more than 20 works have been published, including reports, journals and books,” Abbasov said.

He highlighted one such publication of particular significance: “The Evolution of French Colonialism: A Political and Constitutional Analysis” by Carlyle Corben, a renowned international expert on colonial governance.

Through its global outreach, advocacy, and academic work, the Baku Initiative Group aims to amplify the voices of people still affected by the legacies of colonial and neo-colonial rule.

By Tamilla Hasanova