Azerbaijan Rejects ‘Disgusting’ US Human Rights Criticism Before COP29

By Nailia Bagirova

BAKU – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has dismissed a letter from U.S. lawmakers, labeling it "disgusting." The lawmakers criticized Azerbaijan’s human rights situation and called for the release of political prisoners ahead of the upcoming COP29 climate conference.

The letter, endorsed by nearly 60 legislators, urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, hostages, and prisoners of war, including ethnic Armenians. It expressed concern that "provocative" statements from Azerbaijan towards Armenia could jeopardize peace negotiations between the two nations, which have experienced two wars since the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.

During a speech in Jabrayil, a town reclaimed from Armenian forces in the 2020 conflict, Aliyev characterized the letter as an "appeal that cannot influence our will," claiming it was intended to intimidate and accuse Azerbaijan.

As Azerbaijan prepares to host delegates and media for the November climate conference, its human rights record, particularly regarding the detention of journalists and activists, is facing increased scrutiny.

Hikmet Hajiyev, Aliyev’s foreign policy adviser, argued that the climate event should not be politicized and accused critics of attempting to divert attention from climate issues.

The legal representatives of Ruben Vardanyan, a former Russian investment banker and high-ranking official in the ethnic Armenian leadership of the self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh region, have filed complaints this week, asserting that he has been tortured, publicly defamed, and denied the right to a prompt trial in Azerbaijan.

Vardanyan has been in detention for over a year following a swift military offensive by Baku to reclaim Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but had been largely autonomous since the 1990s.

Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general responded to the allegations, asserting that Vardanyan’s rights had been upheld and that he had received multiple visits from representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The prosecutor’s office stated that his presumption of innocence had not been violated and that he had not experienced inhumane treatment or torture.

Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing in Karabakh, a claim that Azerbaijan denies. Over the past year, the two nations have engaged in sporadic discussions concerning a peace treaty.

Aliyev also accused Armenia of lacking sincerity in negotiations and of rearming for potential conflict, urging them to "stop these dangerous games."

In recent weeks, Armenia has indicated that Azerbaijan appears uninterested in finalizing a treaty, following its withdrawal from several Azerbaijani border villages it had controlled for years.