Civil Society Report on Xenophobia in Azerbaijan and Submission on Hate Crime in Azerbaijan

Human rights oriented civil society organizations issued a joint Report on Xenophobia in Azerbaijan and submitted a report on Hate Crime in Azerbaijan to OSCE ODIHR.

In February 2021, Human Rights Research Center, along with a group of Armenian civil society organizations, issued a joint Report on Xenophobia in Azerbaijan.

The Report on Xenophobia in Azerbaijan provides a brief compilation of and references to data and analytical materials describing xenophobia and discrimination towards Armenians in the Republic of Azerbaijan, which generate an existential threat to the indigenous Armenian people of Artsakh. The material covers matters related to racism, racial discrimination,intolerance,indigenous peoples rights, cultural rights, minority rights, ethnic cleansing, religion, freedom of expression, education, use of toxics, environment, health, mercenaries, disappearances, executions, terrorism, torture, inhuman treatment, corruption, international order, promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. The document illustrates cases of dehumanization and demonization, which fuel the hatred within the society against the state of Armenia as well as the Armenian minority living in Azerbaijan. It provides examples on how the anti-Armenian propaganda is being used and abused by Azerbaijan’s dictatorial regime as an instrument, on the one hand, to suppress the democratic developments in the country and, on the other hand, to isolate Artsakh from the world. The document also provides a brief account on the criminal acts used during the 44-day war, that lasted from September 27 until November 9, 2020, carried out with support of Turkey, illustrating the genocidal intent within the course of the Second Artsakh War. In the end the document provides recommendations to the UN Special Rapporteurs with a call to take measures to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh people as well as to ensure their well-being and safety.

In April 2021, submission to OSCE ODIHR on Hate Crime in Azerbaijan was developed by Armenian CSOs - Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Human Rights Research Center, Helsinki Citizens Assembly - Vanadzor, Law Development and Protection Foundation, “Protection of Rights without Borders” NGO and Open Society Foundations - Armenia.

The submission describes incidents of hate crime that occured through 2020 in Azerbaijan motivated by dominant Armenophobic state propaganda in the country.