“GEGHARD”
SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL
FOUNDATION
2025
2025
In Azerbaijan, under conditions of dictatorship, lack of freedom of speech, and persecution, many Azerbaijani journalists and activists seek asylum and operate outside of Azerbaijan. However, the Azerbaijani government haunts them even beyond the country's borders, including in Europe. These persecutions include threats against journalists, physical violence and assassination attempts, as well as demands for extradition of journalists by issuing arrest warrants.
The persecution of opposition activists and journalists abroad by the Azerbaijani authorities has intensified since 2014, after the European Parliament failed to adopt a resolution on the situation of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. According to human rights activist Leyla Yunus, Baku realized that they don't need to fear sanctions and began persecutions against opponents both inside and outside the country. The Azerbaijani authorities have acquired influence agents in various countries through "caviar diplomacy," facilitating persecutions and ensuring impunity.
For instance, in 2014, Rauf Mirkadyrov, an employee of the Russian-language newspaper "Zerkalo," was arrested in Turkey and deported to Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, he was imprisoned on charges of high treason.
In 2014, at the request of Baku, Dashgin Aghalarov, a member of Azerbaijan's "National Council of Democratic Forces" and collaborator with "Turan TV," was arrested in Georgia. He was released after six months, but Georgian authorities demanded to leave the country. Aghalarov sought asylum in Norway but was arrested at Gdansk airport during a visit to Poland in 2020.
In May 2017, opposition journalist Afgan Mukhtarly was kidnapped in Tbilisi and transferred to Baku. In Baku, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison. His arrest entailed wide international response. As a result, Mukhtarly was released in 2020 and taken directly from prison to the airport and sent to Germany.
In 2019, opposition blogger Elvin Isayev was deported from Russia. He moved to Ukraine, from where he was deported to Azerbaijan. He was arrested in Baku. Previously he was arrested in Ukraine in 2017, but the court denied the request for the journalist's extradition.
In 2019, Ganimat Zaid, the head of the " Azərbaycan Saatı" TV, was attacked in Strasbourg. In the same year, blogger Gabil Mammadov was attacked in Germany. He was also attacked in January 2021.
Journalist Sevinc Osmanqizi, residing in the USA, also spoke about threats against her. She presents cases of human rights violations and corruption cases in Azerbaijan in her program.
In February 2021, and then in November 2022, blogger Orkhan Agayev was beaten in Berlin. After the attack, police began to monitor his residence.
In March 2021, blogger and civil activist Mohammad Mirzali, who had sought asylum in Nantes, France, was demanded to cease his opposition activities, threatening to publish personal videos of his sister. Shortly after, an assassination attempt was made against him: he suffered 16 stab wounds. According to Mirzali, the attackers also tried to cut out his tongue but failed. This was not the first assassination attempt against Mirzali; in October 2020, 4 bullets were fired at his car.
During 2021, 3 Azerbaijani activists died under unknown circumstances: Vugar Rza in Brussels, Bayram Mammadov in Istanbul, and blogger Huseyn Bakikhanov in Tbilisi (he was beaten two days before his death). All cases were attributed as suicides, but Azerbaijani human rights defenders do not believe these versions.
In August 2024, journalist Afgan Sadigov was arrested in Georgia. He is also facing the threat of extradition.
According to Azerbaijani journalist Emin Ahmedbekov, the Azerbaijani authorities have also elaborated special mechanisms to persecute journalists. In particular, in Germany, they finance a special group of athletes who pursue and beat opponents of Aliyev's government. In other words, the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to silence voices criticizing them and exposing their crimes.