Human rights groups urge International Association of Judges to act on Azerbaijan

In their letter, the signatories underline that Azerbaijan’s judiciary operates under heavy executive interference, enabling politically motivated prosecutions and widespread crackdowns on dissent. This systemic lack of independence, they warn, directly undermines human rights and the rule of law.

The appeal comes at a critical moment: as the IAJ prepares to meet in Baku in October 2025, it faces both an opportunity for direct engagement and a responsibility to address the reality of Azerbaijan’s justice system.

Reports from UN and Council of Europe bodies, as well as local civil society groups, have consistently highlighted judicial harassment, torture, politically motivated charges, and the routine denial of fair trials. According to Azerbaijani human rights groups, the number of political prisoners has reached 375 this year, with dozens more targeted in recent months. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly found that Azerbaijani courts fail to protect against arbitrary detention, often serving only as a rubber stamp for the prosecution.

The letter calls on the IAJ to:

• Condemn executive interference in the judiciary, which has turned the courts into a tool of repression.

• Condemn the judiciary’s inability to review repressive laws and ensure effective checks on executive power.

• Urge Azerbaijan to cooperate with international monitoring bodies and fully implement European Court of Human Rights judgments.

• Activate its own monitoring mechanisms under Article 13 of its regulations to formally examine Azerbaijan’s violations.

The groups stress that a resolution from the IAJ would send a vital signal of solidarity with those unjustly imprisoned and support the independence of the legal profession in Azerbaijan.