The International Coalition for Democratic Renewal (ICDR) and our partner Forum 2000 Foundation are deeply concerned with the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan. For months, the government has escalated its repression of lawyers, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders, to the point where at present, the civil society is in a state of paralysis. The Azerbaijani government has been reported to use a variety of tactics, including fabricated charges, arbitrary arrests, and judicial harassment, to silence dissenting voices. Currently, there are more than 300 political prisoners in the country, who face harsh conditions, mistreatment, and even violence.
