UN expert calls for Anar Mammadli’s release

In his statement, the United Nations expert, Michel Forst, urges “the government of Azerbaijan to ensure the immediate release of Anar Mammadli from pre-trial detention. [He] also urge[s] the government of Azerbaijan to ensure that all charges against Anar Mammadli are immediately dropped, and that Anar Mammadli receives full compensation for all material and non-material harm caused as a result of his unlawful detention. 

Following Anar Mammadli’s sentencing to pre-trial detention on 30 April 2024, the UN Special Rapporteur wrote twice to the government of Azerbaijan, has he details in his statement. 

“As the international community is looking to #Azerbaijan ahead of COP29 Azerbaijan, set to start in Baku in less than two weeks, [Michel Forst is] gravely concerned about the deterioration in the treatment of Anar Mammadli and the crackdowns on civil society actors, including environmental defenders like Anar Mammadli, more broadly,” the United Nations Special Rapporteur writes in his statement. 

The Special Rapporteur also underlines his deep concern about Anar Mammadli’s health (about Anar Mammadli’s health).  

As the Rapporteur further underlines, Azerbaijan, as a Party to the Aarhus Convention, has a binding obligation under article 3 (8) of the Convention to “ensure that persons exercising their rights in conformity with the Convention are not penalized, persecuted or harassed in any way for their involvement”. 

On 25 October 2024, the Special Rapporteur wrote to the government requesting to be able to visit Anar Mammadli in prison, as he will travel to Baku to participate to COP29, should Anar Mammadli not be released before COP29.