Ombudsperson slams double standards toward Azerbaijan in human rights report

Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), Sabina Aliyeva, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Azerbaijan in the restoration of the rights of those affected by Armenia's policy of ethnic cleansing, stressing the importance of adhering to international law and humanitarian principles.

Aliyeva made these remarks during her presentation of the annual report on the state of human rights in Azerbaijan for 2024 at the plenary session of the Milli Majlis, the country’s parliament, Caliber.Az reports.

Aliyeva emphasized the significant work undertaken to restore the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs), who were forcibly expelled from their ancestral lands due to the conflict with Armenia. She underscored that the restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty has been a cornerstone in addressing the plight of these displaced individuals.

"In the aftermath of the restoration of our country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, we have repeatedly highlighted the mine threat posed by Armenia. However, the indifference of some international organizations to these appeals can be seen as a manifestation of double standards towards Azerbaijan," Aliyeva stated, pointing out the lack of action by some international bodies despite Azerbaijan's repeated warnings regarding the ongoing mine risks in the liberated areas.

Aliyeva also outlined the work done under Azerbaijan’s National Preventive Mechanism, which involves monitoring the conditions of detainees in state institutions. In 2024, a total of 352 inspections were conducted to assess detainee treatment and conditions, with 108 of them being unscheduled. During these visits, detainees were interviewed confidentially, and the implementation of previous Ombudsman recommendations to address violations was checked.

Furthermore, the Ombudsperson emphasized the need for improved medical services for detainees, including the elimination of the shortage of medical specialists and the introduction of an electronic system to record medical data in detention facilities. 

By Vafa Guliyeva