Azerbaijan’s Political Repression and Corruption Exposed at OECD Anti-Corruption Forum

Paris, France – 2025 OECD Global Anti-corruption and Integrity Forum – During the OECD Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, at the side event organized by the National Whistleblower Center, journalist and human rights activist Emin Huseynov spoke on behalf of the Institute for Human Rights, shedding light on the daily struggles faced by whistleblowers—particularly in authoritarian regimes—and exploring potential solutions to address these challenges. The event also featured insightful statements from Stephen Kohn, Eliza Lockhart, Christopher Wylie, and Maria de los Angeles Estrada.

According to human rights defender Emin Huseynov, the Azerbaijani government suffers from a severe lack of good governance. As he pointed out, a striking example of this is the static nature of the executive, which has remained unchanged for the past 32 years. This, he argued, underscores how political power has been passed from father to son, with the Aliyev family now preparing another transition of power to its successors.

The Institute for Human Rights highlighted the sharp contrast in the experiences of whistleblowers depending on their country of residence. While being a whistleblower in nations like the United States or Switzerland comes with a certain degree of protection and financial rewards in Azerbaijan, the situation is dramatically different. In fact, in the country, a significant number of whistleblowers have been imprisoned for their crucial work, particularly for exposing major corruption scandals.

Huseynov stressed that in just the past two years, over 40 journalists and whistleblowers have been jailed in Azerbaijan on politically motivated charges, with a total number of political prisoners exceeding 360 individuals. Moreover, he stated that governmental repression extends beyond the country’s borders, citing the shocking case of a prominent activist and outspoken government critic, who was brutally murdered in October 2024 in his home in Mulhouse, France.

The director of the Institute for Human Rights also stressed the importance of dismantling corruption systems in the country. To illustrate this point, he mentioned the case of Azerbaijani whistleblower and philanthropist Ilgar Hajiyev, who reported a corruption scheme, organized by the government to undermine his entrepreneurial activity. Following this episode, a politically motivated case was brought against Ilgar Hajiyev, which resulted in him fleeing Azerbaijan and moving to the US, fearing possible repercussions.

Additionally, sharing his own experience, Emin Huseynov recalled how, as a vocal critic of the regime, he was forced into hiding in the Swiss Embassy to escape persecution by Azerbaijani authorities. He further emphasized the urgent need for clear legal mechanisms to protect dissidents and whistleblowers, to fight against corruption and kleptocrats.

In his final remarks Huseynov called for greater accountability, stressing the importance of imposing penalties on kleptocrats. Furthermore, he asserted that institutional support and donor funding are essential for ensuring the survival of anti-corruption initiatives and civil society organizations.