Targeting Journalists and Exiles: UN HRC61 Side Event Exposes Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Crackdown

On 23 March 2026, a side event held on the margins of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC61) in Geneva brought urgent attention to the worsening human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the growing pattern of transnational repression targeting critics abroad.

The event gathered human rights defenders, journalists, and international experts who presented alarming evidence of systemic persecution, including the imprisonment of journalists, gender-based repression, and cross-border attacks against exiled activists.

“We now have over 400 individuals imprisoned on politically motivated charges, including more than 35 journalists. Among them are nine courageous women targeted simply for their investigative work exposing high-level corruption and state-sponsored repression”, says Diana Nazarets, a human rights advocate.

Particular concern was raised over the targeting of women journalists, many of whom face long prison sentences and abuse: “Women journalists have been beaten, threatened with sexual violence, denied medical care, and subjected to humiliation in detention. Their health is being used as a tool of coercion.”

The case of imprisoned journalist Fatima Movlamli, currently on hunger strike, was highlighted as emblematic of the urgency.

Matilda Pacheco highlighted the case of exiled human rights defender Emin Huseynov: “Following his public advocacy, he faced surveillance, threats, and what appeared to be an attempted abduction near the United Nations in Geneva. These incidents demonstrate an increasingly cross-border dimension of repression.”

Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Constantinos Efstathiou, strongly condemned these developments, stating that, “The attempted attack in Geneva proves that transnational repression has no borders. It can occur anywhere, at any time, against anyone—especially those defending human rights.”

“Transnational repression is ultimately an attack on human dignity. We must remain vigilant and stand against both legal and brutal forms of repression”, says Mr Efstathiou.

The victim of attempted assassination and abduction, a well-known exiled Azerbaijani journalist and human rights defender Emin Huseynov himself described the direct threats he faces:

“This is the highest level of threat I have faced in 25 years of human rights work. My life remains under threat from the Azerbaijani authorities.”

He recounted suspected attempted attacks in Geneva on February 18th, February 20th, 21st and 24th 2026.

“I faced a possible kidnapping and an armed attack just near to the UN Office in Geneva, following my public exchange with the President Aliyev and Vice-President Aliyeva at the Munich Security Conference, held on February 13-15th”, he says.

Huseynov reported being followed by armed individuals and his was alsovehicle tracked.

Regional perspectives reinforced that the problem extends beyond Azerbaijan.

Ucha Nanuashvili, Director at the Democracy Research Institute, highlighted patterns of cross-border abuses and democratic backsliding in Georgia: “We are witnessing cases of abduction, politically motivated prosecutions, and the use of the judiciary against critics. Cooperation with international human rights mechanisms is now being criminalized.”

“Georgia, once a leader in democratic reform, is now experiencing serious backsliding and a rise in authoritarian practices”, he warned.

Participants concluded by calling on the international community to take urgent action, including accountability measures, stronger protection for exiled activists, and sustained pressure on Azerbaijani authorities to release political prisoners and uphold human rights obligations.