55th Session of the UPR Working Group: Review of Azerbaijan

25 March, 2024

Delivered by Ms. Lilit Toutkhalian, Minister Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary

Mr. President,

On various international platforms Azerbaijan has continuously claimed that it is ready to ensure the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, once faced with specific recommendations to this end pronounced by a number of states at the UPR review session, Azerbaijan declined to support them. This is very telling.

Overall, Azerbaijan rejected 134 recommendations, more than 40 percent of 318 recommendations. This does not come as a surprise for the state that according to credible reports practices extrajudicial killings; torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; harsh, life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary detention; politically motivated reprisals; pervasive problems with the independence of the judiciary; restrictions on freedom of expression, including violence against journalists, a de facto ban on the rights of peaceful assembly and association; restrictions on freedom of movement; systemic government corruption; lack of accountability for gender-based violence; gross violations of the minorities rights and the list goes on and on.

Freedom House ranks Azerbaijan at the very bottom of the list. We urge this Council to keep the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan in the focus of its attention.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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