Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) Sabina Aliyeva has addressed an open letter to Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, in response to a biased and distorted portrayal of Azerbaijan in the organization’s 2024 human rights report.
According to Report, Aliyeva strongly objected to the publication of one-sided and misleading information on Amnesty’s official website, stating that it reflected a clear departure from the organization’s principles of objectivity and fairness.
Aliyeva emphasized that, contrary to the report’s claims, the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) hosted in Baku had broad participation, emphasized inclusivity, and involved active engagement from civil society.
She further criticized the omission of key issues such as the forced displacement of over 250,000 Azerbaijanis from Armenia starting in 1987 and the ongoing threat of landmines on liberated Azerbaijani territories. Aliyeva also noted the report’s failure to mention the fate of nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War.
Additionally, the ombudsperson expressed disappointment over the report’s disregard for the active role of her office in monitoring detention conditions and promoting transparency, particularly through its work as the National Preventive Mechanism.
In closing, Aliyeva called on Amnesty International and other global human rights bodies to adhere strictly to international legal standards and base their assessments on verified, unbiased information.