Azerbaijani government criticized for silencing media ahead of climate summit
Azerbaijan faces accusations of suppressing media and activists as it prepares to host the UN Cop29 climate talks in November.
Fiona Harvey reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Human Rights Watch reports at least 25 journalists and activists were arrested or sentenced in Azerbaijan over the past year, most of whom remain in custody.
- Critics argue that Azerbaijan’s media crackdown hampers climate advocacy, with concerns raised at a pre-Cop29 meeting in Bonn.
- Azerbaijan, ranked low for political freedoms and high for corruption, denies the allegations, claiming adherence to legal processes.
Key quote:
“Holding Cop29 in Azerbaijan raises serious concerns about the possibility of advancing ambitious climate action in negotiations.”
— Myrto Tilianaki, Human Rights Watch
Why this matters:
Hosting COP29 is a major opportunity for Azerbaijan to showcase its role in global climate efforts. However, critics argue that the government’s crackdown on dissenting voices undermines the very principles of open dialogue and cooperation that the climate talks aim to foster. Reports of journalists and environmental activists facing harassment and detention have sparked international concern, with advocacy groups calling for greater protections and freedoms.
Be sure to check out EHN’s audio diaries from COP28: Part 1 and Part 2.
