US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the Azerbaijani government to immediately release detained activists and journalists, condemning the increasing repression against civil society and media in the country. Blinken expressed deep concern over these arrests and the escalating restrictions on human rights advocacy in Azerbaijan.
In his statement, Blinken emphasized Azerbaijan’s obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as pledged during its accession to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The Secretary of State highlighted the cases of two detainees who were slated to be awarded the US State Department’s “Human Rights Defender” and “Anti-Corruption Champion” awards in Washington. Rufat Safarov, co-founder of the Defense Line organization, which documents politically motivated arrests, persecution, and torture, was detained on December 3, just days before his planned departure for the United States.
Another awardee, Sevinc Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, has exposed illegal tenders within companies controlled by government officials. She was arrested in November 2023 and was posthumously recognized with the Secretary’s 2024 “Anti-Corruption Champion” award.
