FB Digest@VoxPOPULI

 

“Corruption remains a major challenge for firms operating in Azerbaijan and a small group of government-connected holding companies dominates the economy…”

(Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms

Former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov was reportedly tortured with an electric shock device while in detention at the police station. Ibrahimov was detained on the evening of July 22. His lawyer, Agil Layij, informed “Azadlıq Radiosu” that an unknown person attacked Ibrahimov near the Khalklar Dostlugu metro station. Subsequently, he was detained by plainclothes officers who approached the area. According to the lawyer, Ibrahimov was taken to the 24th branch of the Nizami District Police Department and subjected to torture. He was given electric shocks to obtain the passcode for his phone. “He said he was allegedly detained on suspicion of stabbing someone. Emin stated that this was not true,” Ibrahimov’s relatives told “Abzas Media.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) informed “Turan” that a personal dispute arose between Emin Ibrahimov, born in 1981, and another citizen, born in 1987. “As a result, Emin Ibrahimov injured the citizen with a knife, and the injured person was taken to the hospital,” the MIA stated. The former diplomat is suspected under Article 126.1 of the Criminal Code (intentional infliction of serious harm to health).

According to his Facebook profile, Ibrahimov previously worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Embassy in the United States, and the diplomatic mission in Uruguay. He was known for his posts criticizing the government.

The Nizami Court has decided to impose a four-month pre-trial detention measure on former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov. This decision grants the request of the Nizami District Police Department, the investigative body. Protesting the court’s decision, Ibrahimov has announced that he is starting a hunger strike. Emin Ibrahimov is known as a sharp critic of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. He accused the government of participating in Russia’s schemes. Ibrahimov describes the incident as follows: While going home to Xalglar to handle some repairs, an unknown man forced his way in and started tearing his clothes. Within seconds, he was detained by plainclothes police officers and taken to the 24th police station. He notes that he was being followed and that this alleged “crime” is fabricated and related to his critical stance.

Previously, the head of the Salyan district branch of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP), Alizamin Salayev, and labor rights defender Afiyaddin Mammadov were also arrested on false stabbing charges.

Historian Igbal Abilov, who researches Talysh history and was detained. On July 24, Abilov was charged under Articles 283 (incitement of national hatred) and 274 (treason) of the Criminal Code and was brought before the court, where a four-month pre-trial detention measure was selected for him. According to the information disseminated by the pro-government “Report” news agency, the State Security Service of Azerbaijan determined that Igbal Shahin oglu Abilov, residing in a third country, was executing the instructions of representatives of the Armenian special services. His relatives believe that Abilov has been arrested on fabricated charges, with the real reason being his research on Azerbaijani Talysh people.

On July 23, Rovshan Aghayev, a founding member of the III Republic Platform, was summoned to the Baku City Main Police Department. He was questioned for over six hours. In an interview, he mentioned that he responded to questions related to the case collectively known as the “Toplum TV case,” which involves the III Republic Platform, the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, and Toplum TV. Due to the confidentiality of the investigation, Aghayev could not provide detailed information. He urged the imprisoned members of the III Republic Platform to stay strong and called on those at liberty to support them.

Access to the website and all social media pages of the independent online publication “Abzas Media” has been restricted by court order. Without any prior warning, all internet resources of the publication have been blocked nationwide, and a total of six employees are imprisoned. Samir Rasulov, head of the Electronic Security Service under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, stated this in response to inquiries from the defenders involved in the “Abzas Media case.”

Samir Rasulov noted that according to Article 64.1 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the valid decisions, as well as instructions, summons, and other lawful requests of the body conducting the criminal process, are mandatory for all state bodies, physical and legal entities, and must be unconditionally executed within the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

“The internet information resources of the ‘Abzas Media‘ online media portal (Abzas.net, abzas.org websites, and all social network accounts of this online media portal) have been restricted based on the decision of the Yasamal District Court of Baku city dated November 29, 2023,” the service head stated.

Governance and Corruption

The U.S. Department of State has released the 2024 Investment Climate Statements. The section on Azerbaijan states that although the Azerbaijani government is striving to attract foreign investments, diversify its economy, and introduce some transparency into the tender process, the investment climate in the country remains challenging.

Azerbaijan’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil and gas production, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of export revenues and more than half of the state budget. In 2023, “Azerbaijan’s economy grew by 1.1 percent, and the consumer price index increased by 8.8 percent year-over-year. According to the country’s Ministry of Economy, annual inflation is projected to be 5.3 percent in 2024 and 4.9 percent in 2025,” the report states.

Moreover, according to the statement, “progress remains slow on structural reforms required to create a diversified and competitive private sector, and corruption remains a major challenge for firms operating in Azerbaijan.  A small group of government-connected holding companies dominates the economy.  Intellectual property rights enforcement and industrial infrastructure are improving but remain insufficient, and judicial transparency is lacking.”

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