COP29 Host Nation Accused of Detaining Climate Activists

Human rights organizations assert that the Azerbaijani government is leveraging its role as COP29 host to suppress environmental activists and other political adversaries. This marks the third consecutive year that a nation hosting the climate summit has faced allegations of repression and restricting the lawful right to demonstrate. Climate Action Network, an alliance comprising nearly 2,000 climate organizations, conveyed to BBC News that safeguarding civil society is essential for nations to achieve advancements in addressing climate change. The Azerbaijani government refutes these accusations, stating that it does not hold any political prisoners. As global leaders convene in Azerbaijan to deliberate on strategies for a warming planet, rights organizations have advocated for an examination of the process by which countries are chosen to host the climate summit. This call follows what they describe as a concerning rise in the number of environmental prisoners of conscience within Azerbaijan. Natalia Nozadze of Amnesty International informed BBC News that since Azerbaijan’s designation as the COP29 host nation in November last year, opposition to the government has become more challenging. She stated, “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in arrests and clamp down on all issues that the government may perceive critical or contrary to its political agenda.” The Union “For Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan” reports that the count of political prisoners, encompassing journalists, environmental activists, and political opponents, has surpassed 300, a figure not seen since the early 2000s. Gubad Ibadoglu, a 53-year-old professor at London university LSE, whose research focuses on Azerbaijan’s oil and gas sectors and environmental concerns, was apprehended in summer 2023 on fraud charges. He has remained under house arrest for over a year. Human Rights Watch characterized the charges as “dubious,” and Gubad Ibadoglu’s daughter has sought assistance from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for her father’s release. In an interview with the BBC this week, Mr Ibadoglu stated, “I think it is one of the rules of the authoritarian government, to arrest, to detain the people who have the power to impact opinion.” He also expressed that his life is at risk due to health complications. Anar Mammadli was arrested in April on smuggling charges, occurring merely two months after he co-founded an organization that advocated for the Azerbaijani government to enhance its adherence to the Paris Agreement, a significant international accord aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions. Environmental activists urge Azerbaijan to decrease its dependence on oil and gas, which contribute approximately 60% of the government’s budget. However, in January, it was disclosed that Azerbaijan intends to increase its natural gas production—a fossil fuel—over the coming decade. Furthermore, on Tuesday, President Ilham Aliyev informed the COP29 climate conference that oil and gas constitute a “gift of god.” Bashir Suleymanli, a close friend of Mr Mammadli, conveyed to the BBC, “COP29 – which was meant to be an open and inclusive platform for climate action – is shaping up to be anything but.” He added, “Civil society groups that should be playing a crucial role in holding governments accountable have been sidelined or repressed.” Nazim Beydemirli, aged 61, received an eight-year prison sentence in October for extortion. His arrest occurred last year following his protest against gold mining activities close to his village. During his 15 months of pre-trial detention, no evidence was presented. His lawyer, Agil Lajic, maintains that the charges lack foundation and are indicative of a wider strategy to suppress opposition in Azerbaijan prior to COP29. The United Arab Emirates and Egypt, previous hosts of COP climate summits, encountered comparable criticism regarding their handling of civil society organizations. Azerbaijani journalist and environmental campaigner Emin Huseynov commented, “I think it’s a big mistake for countries – like Azerbaijan or United Arab Emirates or Egypt – who systematically violate human rights, to be accepted as eligible host countries.” He further stated, “President Aliyev isn’t connected with climate change, but he’s looking for COP29 as a unique opportunity to whitewash and greenwash himself, his toxic image.” Prior to the conference’s commencement, the President’s Special Envoy, Elchin Amirbayov, informed the BBC, “I don’t accept these type of allegations, as they are not based on facts. “Azerbaijan doesn’t [differentiate] in terms of participation in this global event of state and non-state actors, including civil society members.” Annually, the host nation is chosen from a distinct global region, requiring consensus among all countries within that region regarding the COP summit’s location. The mechanism to prevent the selection of a country hostile to civil society remains undefined. Andreas Sieber, representing the climate campaign group 350.org, stated, “All countries need to be included, that’s the point of the United Nations.” He then posed, “The question is, what rules do you put in place?” Sieber has urged the UN to ensure that the host country agreement—the contract between the UN and the host—incorporates a provision prohibiting the use of spyware against participants, a concern he noted at prior conferences. The UN permits activists to protest at COP, and in response, the UNFCCC—the UN body responsible for climate change—declared: “This year’s Host Country Agreement for the first time includes provisions on the protection of human rights, which we welcome as a positive step forward.” However, Tasneem Essop, executive director of Climate Action Network, remarked, “The [UN] cannot tell the host country what they can and cannot do about their human rights situation – that’s the challenge.” She indicated that it falls to other nations to address this matter, but both Ms Essop and Mr Sieber concurred that this is arduous given the global decline in support for civil society, a trend not confined to Azerbaijan. In October, members of the European Parliament denounced Azerbaijan’s “repression” of activists, journalists, and opposition figures, asserting that its human rights violations are inconsistent with hosting COP29. Emin Huseynov, however, believes the international community has largely “given up” on this matter, pointing to the noticeable silence from the UK government, specifically, in contrast to prior years when it publicly criticized COP27 host Egypt regarding its human rights record. On Tuesday, Mr Starmer held a meeting with Azerbaijani President Aliyev at COP29, though he declined to confirm whether human rights or Mr Ibadoglu’s situation were topics of discussion. A Foreign Office spokesperson stated that the issue is “regularly raised” by ministers. Tasneem Essop emphasized the critical importance of resolving this issue, citing the vital role civil society performs in advancing the climate change agenda. She remarked, “It was civil society that fought the battle to establish a loss and damage fund [to help poorer countries deal with the impact of climate change], after more than 30 years of countries, negotiating and fighting.” She concluded, “Our presence really does hold their feet to the fire. We will hold them to account.”