Challenges In Azerbaijan: Key Issues And Problems

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and West Asia. The country has a rich history, with its territory first ruled by Caucasian Albania and later by various Persian empires. Over the centuries, Azerbaijan has been occupied by the Russians, Arabs, and Mongols, and has been influenced by Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam.

Today, Azerbaijan faces a range of problems, including human rights abuses, government corruption, and ongoing conflict with neighbouring Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Human rights issues in Azerbaijan include unlawful killings, torture, harsh prison conditions, arbitrary detention, political prisoners, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, gender-based violence, child labour, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals. The government has also been criticised for its harsh treatment of journalists, with Azerbaijan ranked as the 5th most censored country in the world.

Azerbaijan's government is considered authoritarian, with the Aliyev political family ruling the country since 1993. The country has been accused of election fraud, economic inequality, and domestic corruption.

In addition to these issues, Azerbaijan also faces environmental challenges, with only 14% of the country's land covered by forest and half of all the world's mud volcanoes located within its borders.

Despite these problems, Azerbaijan has made progress in certain areas, such as improving its education and healthcare systems, and developing its tourism industry. The country is also a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the World Trade Organization.

Human rights violations

Freedom of Expression and Assembly

Azerbaijan has been criticised for its restrictive laws curtailing freedom of expression and assembly. Journalists, human rights defenders, and activists have been arrested, and peaceful protests have been suppressed. The media remains severely restricted, with independent journalists facing harassment, imprisonment, and even physical assault. The country ranks 167 out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index.

Torture and Ill-Treatment

There have been persistent reports and allegations of torture and ill-treatment by authorities, particularly to coerce confessions from detainees. In 2021, reports of torture and other abuse by Azerbaijani forces against Armenian civilians and prisoners of war during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict came to light.

Political Prisoners

Azerbaijan has been pressured by the international community to release its political prisoners. While some have been pardoned or released, many remain in custody, including critics of the government and opposition activists.

Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence, including domestic violence, is pervasive in Azerbaijan but often goes unreported. Women's rights activists have reported police failure to register or respond to these incidents, and there are significant barriers to accessing shelters.

Freedom of Religion

Azerbaijan's secular and anti-religious ideology represses all religions. Religious literature is censored, and religious institutions are closed down if considered objectionable by the government. Clerics are forbidden from running for political office, and mosque closures are used to repress independent Muslim groups.

Discrimination and Societal Abuses

Discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, as well as the LGBTQI+ community, persists in Azerbaijan. Hate speech against Armenians is common in the media, and individuals with Armenian-sounding names face additional screening and restrictions at border crossings.

LGBTQI+ individuals face discrimination, wrongful detention, and violence. They are regularly fired by employers if their sexual orientation or gender identity becomes known, and the police often refuse to investigate crimes committed against them.

Child Labour and Trafficking

Azerbaijan has been criticised for the existence of the worst forms of child labour within its borders. There have also been reports of human trafficking, with authorities attempting to misuse international law enforcement tools for politically motivated purposes.

Corruption

Corruption is considered endemic in Azerbaijan, particularly in the government and judiciary. There have been allegations of bribery and "caviar diplomacy", where officials and diplomats are bribed to promote certain causes and legitimise fraudulent elections.

Political repression

Aliyev became president in 2003, taking over from his father, Heydar Aliyev, who ruled as President from 1993 to 2003. The country's ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party, has been accused of authoritarianism and worsening the country's human rights record, including increasing restrictions on civil liberties and press freedom.

Azerbaijan's political system is nominally a semi-presidential republic, with power shared between the President and the Prime Minister. However, in practice, the President holds most of the power, and elections are not free and fair. The President can appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister, and the ruling party controls all the electoral commissions in the country.

Opposition parties are repressed, and independent journalists and activists are frequently targeted. There have been numerous reports of human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly.

In the lead-up to the February 2024 presidential election, Amnesty International highlighted a crackdown on the right to freedom of expression, including the targeting of critical voices and the harassment and intimidation of their families. This included the freezing of bank accounts, barring individuals from accessing their salaries, pensions, and other financial assets.

The government has also been accused of bribing foreign officials and diplomats to promote its interests and legitimize its elections, a practice known as "caviar diplomacy."

Corruption

Azerbaijan has long been considered one of the most corrupt countries in the world, with Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index ranking it 154th out of 180 countries. Corruption is widespread and occurs at all levels of government and the economy, with bribery, nepotism, and cronyism being commonplace. The country's oil wealth has significantly strengthened the stability of the current regime and enriched ruling elites, with international anti-corruption indices showing that Azerbaijan is perceived to be more corrupt than its neighbours.

Political Corruption

Azerbaijan's political landscape is dominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, which has been in power since 1993. The country's president, Ilham Aliyev, took over from his father Heydar in 2003 and has since been re-elected four times, most recently in 2024 with over 92% of the vote. However, international observers have criticised these elections as being devoid of genuine pluralism, with no meaningful challengers to Aliyev.

The country's political opposition has been weakened by years of persecution, and the government has been accused of authoritarianism, worsening the country's human rights record, and increasing restrictions on civil liberties, particularly press freedom. Despite some progress in recent years, such as the establishment of the Commission on Combating Corruption and the introduction of anti-corruption legislation, enforcement remains poor.

Azerbaijan's judiciary and police sector are also highly susceptible to corruption, with judges and law enforcement officials frequently accepting bribes. The judiciary is inefficient and lacks independence, with verdicts often appearing predetermined and unrelated to the evidence presented. This has resulted in a perception of the judicial process as unreliable, particularly for foreign investors.

The tax administration and customs administration are also highly prone to corruption, presenting significant challenges for businesses operating in the country. Bribes and irregular payments are frequently exchanged when meeting with tax officials, and tax inspections are used to intimidate and pressure private companies.

Anti-Corruption Efforts

While the government of Azerbaijan has implemented a comprehensive legal anti-corruption framework, enforcement remains a significant issue. The government has established various institutions to combat corruption, such as the Commission on Combating Corruption and the Anti-Corruption General Directorate, and has introduced initiatives like the Azerbaijan service assessment network (ASAN) to reduce petty corruption in routine transactions. However, corruption remains a significant challenge, hindering the country's development and deterring foreign investment.

Military conflict

Azerbaijan has a long history of military conflict with neighbouring Armenia, with the two countries fighting over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict has its roots in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which led to the emergence of several independent states in the South Caucasus region, including Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The First Nagorno-Karabakh War took place from 1988 to 1994 and resulted in the deaths of around 30,000 people, with a further one million people displaced. The conflict ended in a ceasefire, with Armenia in control of Nagorno-Karabakh and occupying 20% of Azerbaijani territory. This ceasefire lasted until 2020, with minor clashes and violations occurring throughout.

In September 2020, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out, resulting in thousands of casualties and a significant Azerbaijani victory. This conflict ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10, 2020, which saw Azerbaijan regain control of the seven districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as a third of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. Despite the ceasefire, tensions and clashes continued, with Azerbaijan launching a blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh in December 2022 and a military offensive in September 2023, resulting in the dissolution and reintegration of the region in January 2024.

The conflict has had a devastating impact on the civilian population, with reports of unlawful killings, torture, and forced displacement on both sides. Older people have been particularly vulnerable, often being the last to flee their homes and facing challenges in accessing humanitarian aid. The conflict has also led to a humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies.

The international community has attempted to mediate and negotiate a solution to the conflict, with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Minsk Group playing a leading role. However, despite efforts to reach a peace agreement, tensions and clashes continue, and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh remains unresolved.

Economic inequality

Azerbaijan has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years, particularly in its energy sector. However, this growth has not been evenly distributed, and the country continues to struggle with economic inequality. While absolute poverty rates have decreased, relative poverty and inequality persist, exacerbated by rural-urban and gender disparities.

In 2022, the top 10% of earners in Azerbaijan commanded 674 manats per month, while the bottom 10% earned only 183.4 manats per month, illustrating stark economic disparities. These disparities are further compounded by gender inequalities, with women bearing the burden of unpaid care work and facing higher unemployment rates than men.

The wealth generated by the country's oil and gas sector, which constituted 91% of total exports in 2022, has largely remained concentrated in Baku, the country's capital and largest city. This has resulted in a significant gap in access to resources and opportunities between urban and rural areas. For example, in 2009, there were notable differences in access to gas supply and sanitation between urban and rural communities.

Azerbaijan's economic inequality is also influenced by political factors. The country's political elite has prioritized energy and security issues over democratic values, hindering broader societal inclusion and contributing to a perception of economic inequality. Additionally, corruption and a lack of transparency in government economic strategies have led to negative sentiments among the population, with many expressing pessimism about the country's economic trajectory.

To address these challenges, Azerbaijan has implemented various state initiatives, such as the 'National Programme on Women's Issues' and the 'State Strategy on the Development of Education'. These initiatives have yielded positive results, with significant progress made in poverty alleviation and improvements in education and women's unemployment rates. However, more comprehensive strategies are needed to address the underlying causes of economic inequality and promote inclusive growth.

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