Federal Lezghi
National and Cultural Autonomy

Azerbaijani minority rights activists “targeted for disloyalty”

A new report on Azerbaijan claims that minority rights activists are targeted for being “disloyal.”

 

The report, published on 6 September by the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, praises the Azerbaijani society as “characterised by a generally open attitude towards diversity and good relations exist among its different ethnic groups.”

 

But it also alleges that “there are strong indications that persons engaged in the protection of human rights, including minority rights, are targeted in criminal proceedings and accused of disloyalty, among others, based on their wish to express their minority identity and seek the enjoyment of their rights.

 

“A negative public narrative against some minorities in particular, further limits their access to rights. There is no effective consultative mechanism to ensure that the concerns of national minority

communities in the regions and at capital level are brought to the attention of the various ministries that deal with issues of their concern.

 

“Despite persistent reports of discriminatory attitudes faced by persons belonging to some minorities, there are only very few cases involving allegations of discrimination brought to the attention of the courts or the Office of the Ombudsperson. Selective criminal proceedings and convictions of persons engaged in the protection of human rights, including minority rights, have a chilling effect on the freedom of expression.

 

“Some groups among the national minority population are still facing considerable disadvantages and obstacles with regard to their access to rights. This includes an uncertain number of stateless persons, inter alia of ethnic Armenian origin, as well as a remaining group of internally displaced persons who are not able to obtain legal documents.”

 

The report’s authors want Azerbaijan to do more for its national minorities. “There are no state television or radio programmes in minority languages, apart from a 15 minutes news edition in Russian which is broadcasted daily,” the report confirms.

 

The Advisory Committee also revealed its surprise at declarations of minority status in the official census.

 

According to the report: “Only 306 persons indicated an ethnic Armenian origin in the 2009 census, particularly considering the regularly cited official estimate that some 30,000 ethnic Armenian citizens of Azerbaijan live in the territory outside the Nagorno Karabakh region.

 

“The unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh and the continued occupation of parts of Azerbaijan’s territory still have a considerable impact on the situation of persons belonging to national minorities and hamper efforts to implement the Framework Convention in Azerbaijan.

 

“The term ‘Armenian’ indeed appears to be used and understood as an insult,16 which may contribute to the fact that very few ethnic Armenians identify themselves as such by, for instance, registering their ethnicity in the census.

 

“The Advisory Committee deplores the impact this public discourse has on parts of the population, as it reportedly continues to give rise to widespread discriminatory behaviour against persons of Armenian origin. Given the difficult relations that Azerbaijan holds also with other neighbouring states, the Advisory Committee fears that official and media identification of ethnic minorities as “traitors” and “enemies” could spread to other groups as well.”

 

In the Advisory Committee’s Opinion, the Azerbaijani authorities should “take all necessary steps to promote the awareness of rights and guarantees under the Framework Convention and ensure a safe environment for persons advocating for these rights, including by guaranteeing their freedom of expression.”

 

They are also urged to “resolutely curb manifestations of intolerance, prejudice and allegations of disloyalty against persons belonging to minorities, including in public discourse” and “ensure that an institutionalised consultative mechanism is put in place to promote the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities at regional and national level on all issues of concern to them and not limited to culture.”

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