News - COP29: Armenian organization informs European officials about human rights issues in Azerbaijan

Various human rights organizations and environmental protection institutions are sounding the alarm about the existing problems in Azerbaijan regarding human rights, the rule of law and environmental issues ahead of the COP29 in Baku, Armenpress reports. The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy has been raising awareness among members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the over 800 international organizations, universities, and academicians who will participate in the aforesaid conference, about the poor track record of Azerbaijan. Issues raised include the Azerbaijani ethnic cleansing of the 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, the destruction of the Armenian historical legacy in Nagorno-Karabakh, the illegally detained Armenian captives in Baku, the restricted media freedom and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan, arrests of oppositionists, discrimination against minorities, police brutality, as well as the oil-related environmental pollution.  The COP29 participants are informed also about the poor human rights record of Azerbaijan outlined in the reports by Freedom House, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. On August 26, Azerbaijan blacklisted 76 MEPs because they criticized the Azerbaijani government for its poor human rights record.