During a recent government meeting, serious allegations of human rights abuses in Azerbaijan were brought to light, highlighting the dire conditions faced by detainees in the country’s prisons. Ulvi Hassanli, a detainee, reported witnessing 58 instances of torture and inhumane treatment within the first six months of 2024 alone. He recounted a particularly harrowing incident where a prisoner pleaded for mercy while being beaten by a guard, who callously remarked that his violent actions had helped him rise to a position of authority.

Hassanli's observations underscore a troubling environment where prison officials operate with impunity, knowing that detainees lack effective channels to report mistreatment. Disturbingly, incidents of abuse reportedly occur even beneath signs promoting a national anti-torture hotline, suggesting a systemic failure to protect prisoners' rights.

In response to these conditions, some inmates have resorted to extreme measures, such as academic Fassil Gassimov, who has been on a hunger strike for over 90 days, with his health rapidly declining. These accounts are part of a broader narrative of escalating repression in Azerbaijan, which includes not only political imprisonment but also harassment of LGBTQ individuals, inadequate support for domestic violence victims, and discrimination against religious groups.

The meeting participants expressed gratitude for the United States and its Western allies adopting a more stringent stance towards Azerbaijan. However, they emphasized that current measures have not significantly deterred President Ilham Aliyev's regime. Calls were made for more robust actions, including targeted sanctions against human rights violators within the government and conditioning foreign assistance on tangible improvements in human rights.

The discussion also touched on the case of a journalist from Radio Free Europe, who received a seven-year prison sentence for exposing corruption linked to Aliyev. Although she has since been released, her case exemplifies the broader climate of fear and repression faced by those who dare to challenge the regime.

The meeting concluded with a consensus that urgent and decisive action is necessary to prevent further deterioration of human rights in Azerbaijan and to protect those who risk their lives to speak out against injustice.