Azerbaijan: Detained human rights advocate denied medical care

Anar Mammadli, a well-known human rights and climate advocate, is suffering from worsening health in detention. Despite serious symptoms, including arthritis, stomach cramps, headaches, shortness of breath, and a persistent cough, authorities are refusing him essential medical care. Held since April 29, 2024, on questionable charges, Mammadli’s health has been declining rapidly. Many of these issues began during a previous detention in 2014 and have intensified in prison. Immediate action is needed to secure his release and ensure he receives proper medical treatment.

Here’s what you can do:

Write to the President of Azerbaijan urging him to:

• Ensure Anar Mammadli’s immediate and unconditional release.
• Pending his release, provide him with adequate healthcare, including access to his recent medical examination results, to assess and treat his deteriorating health.
• End the misuse of the criminal justice system to target individuals for criticism and dissent.

Anar Mammadli’s activism

Anar Mammadli is a prominent human rights defender and head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre. He co-founded the Climate of Justice Initiative, which focuses on promoting civic space and environmental justice at COP29, set to take place in Baku in November 2024. As an early advocate linking human rights to climate justice, Mammadli has been active in international forums, including the UN Human Rights Council and the OSCE.

Arrest and detention

On April 29, 2024, Mammadli was detained by masked men on his way to pick up his child. After his arrest, police searched his home and allegedly planted money. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed his detention, stating he is suspected of “smuggling by prior conspiracy by a group of persons” under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code. Mammadli was held overnight without access to his lawyer, and on April 30, the Khatai District Court ordered his pre-trial detention. His appeal on May 6 was denied. In October, he requested a medical examination outside the detention facility due to health concerns, but his legal team has not received the results.

Ongoing harassment

Mammadli, recognized as a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International in 2014, has a history of persecution by Azerbaijani authorities. He served five years on fabricated charges before being pardoned in 2016. In prison, he received the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.

Despite a European Court of Human Rights ruling that his 2013 arrest violated his rights, Azerbaijani authorities have yet to restore his civil and political freedoms. Mammadli’s current detention aligns with a pattern of harassment against government critics, including journalists and activists.

Please take action as soon as possible until December 30, 2024! The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.