As the UN and world leaders prepare to visit Baku for the COP29 Climate Conference in Azerbaijan, preparations are well underway. Alongside the construction of the event venue, several restrictions are set to be implemented during the conference. Azerbaijan’s event hosting has faced criticism from human rights activists and organisations; however, the UN’s decision remains unchanged. Beyond the country’s historically low global rankings, Azerbaijan’s political climate has recently deteriorated, with a government-led crackdown on independent voices. Dozens of journalists and political activists have been arrested, with criminal investigations launched against them. The host country faces significant challenges regarding both freedom of expression and climate issues.
How was the hosting of COP29 given to Azerbaijan?
Following the UN’s decision to grant Azerbaijan the opportunity to host COP29, the Azerbaijani government has swiftly initiated preparations. These efforts focus on two primary areas: constructing the event venue and creating special lanes for the summit, while simultaneously continuing its crackdown on dissenting voices. Despite ongoing political pressure and suppression of independent media, which did not influence the UN’s decision, detained journalists and activists remain in pre-trial detention, facing potential punishment for their work.
COP, the Conference of the Parties, is the governing body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), established in 1994. The annual conference aims to address climate change through global agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
In 2023, Azerbaijan was a candidate to host COP29, though it was initially not the only contender. However, with Bulgaria withdrawing its bid, Azerbaijan became the sole candidate. Despite the November 2023 conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, both countries later released a joint statement, with Armenia expressing support for Azerbaijan’s hosting of the summit. Following Armenia’s lift of its veto, the UN confirmed Azerbaijan as the COP29 host, scheduled for November 11-22, 2024.
President Ilham Aliyev personally oversees the preparations and visits the event venue at least twice. His assistant provides constant updates on the progress. Despite heavy rains in Baku that recently paralyzed the city and resulted with the death of two people, who were stuck at the tunnel, Aliyev affirmed, “The preparation for COP29 is in the final stages.”
Despite the Azerbaijani government’s recent investments in green energy projects, including plans to export renewable energy, oil and gas production continues with a largely unacknowledged environmental and health impact.
As part of its renewable energy initiatives, Azerbaijan has signed agreements with Masdar (UAE) and ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia) to build solar and wind plants, aiming to supply Europe with cleaner energy. These efforts align with the EU’s goals to diversify energy sources and reduce fossil fuel dependency by 2030.
While green energy production has begun, oil and gas remain the primary sources of revenue in Azerbaijan’s state budget, with extraction activities ongoing in the Caspian Sea and other regions. Mirvari Gahramanli, chair of the Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization, highlights the human rights abuses against workers and health risks facing citizens living in oil-polluted areas. Those issues are often overshadowed by the significant oil and gas revenue.
“Each year, accidents happen, and no one is held accountable due to nepotism. Those responsible are often connected to influential people,” Gahramanli said in a recent interview.
Nevertheless, Ilham Aliyev called the UN’s decision to allow Baku to host COP29 “a sign of respect.” He remarked, “It is a sign of respect from the international community for Azerbaijan and our actions, especially in green energy,” during his April 2024 speech at the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue.
COP29 preparation that accompanied by one of the largest political crackdowns
Azerbaijan, a South Caucasian country governed by President Ilham Aliyev for over two decades, held its latest presidential election in February 2024. Like previous elections, this snap election—Aliyev’s second in the past decade—was marred by reports of violations. The Central Election Committee announced Aliyev’s victory with 92% of the vote, in an election where the six other candidates largely endorsed him during their campaigns. This win secured him another seven-year term.
Since late November 2023, a new wave of crackdowns has forced several media organisations and initiatives to cease or scale down their activities. Among the affected was Abzas Media, where nearly the entire management team was detained. The organisation’s director, Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifqizi, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov, and reporters Hafiz Babali, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova were all detained. Initially charged with various offences under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, these journalists now face additional charges, potentially resulting in prison sentences of 7-12 years.
Abzas Media is not the only media organisation targeted in the latest wave of detentions. Toplum TV also faced severe repercussions, with its office in Baku sealed. Beyond journalists, this crackdown has ensnared professors, political activists, workers’ rights advocates, and peace activists, many of whom have been placed in pre-trial detention.
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, Azerbaijan scored 23 out of 100, ranking 154th out of 180 countries—a stagnant position compared to 2022, indicating no improvement in corruption control. The 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders also reflects a decline, placing Azerbaijan 164th, down from the previous year. With the current crackdown, these rankings may further decline in the coming year. The Union for the Freedom of Azerbaijan Political Prisoners recently reported 319 political prisoners, including journalists, media workers, and political activists.
COP29 is not Azerbaijan’s first major international event. In previous years, the country hosted events like Formula 1, the European Olympic Games, and the Islamic Solidarity Games, despite consistently low rankings in corruption, human rights, and media freedom.
“In 2013, Azerbaijan went through a harsh period of repression, followed by another wave against NGOs in 2014,” says Baku-based journalist Ulviyya Ali.
“For those new to activism, the current crackdown may seem intimidating. But I recall similar times in 2013-2014. Working in this field in Azerbaijan has always meant operating under pressure. You could once go to court and report without issue, but now the police block both journalists and defendants. There are barriers like that.”
Ali reflects on the pressures and risks that have long accompanied journalism in Azerbaijan.
When Azerbaijan won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011, it was confirmed that the following year’s event would be held in Baku. As part of the preparations, construction of the Baku Crystal Hall began, but this project was marked by widespread property rights violations, as residents in the construction area were forced to vacate their homes. Political activists held protests and demonstrations, calling for the release of political prisoners. These campaigns, led by the opposition group Public Chamber and the “Sing for Democracy” initiative, resulted in the arrest of additional activists. Despite calls from the OSCE for their release, the Azerbaijani government did not relent.
In 2016, Azerbaijan signed an agreement with the International Automobile Association to host Formula 1 for at least five years. The agreement was extended in 2023 to keep the event in Baku until 2026. Each year, Baku’s main roads close to prepare the Baku City Circuit, and even Baku Boulevard—part of the circuit—requires a ticket for entry. While government officials and supporters praise Formula 1 and similar international events, local residents see them as a source of disruption. For about a month, special barriers restrict access to certain streets, leading to delays, traffic congestion, and general inconvenience for the public.
A similar situation is unfolding ahead of COP29, as the event venue is close to the city center. Residents already anticipate potential disruptions and challenges as preparations progress.
“In Azerbaijan, neither the army nor the State Security Service has an ideological commitment to the government; their loyalty is tied to financial incentives and the opportunities they are given,” explained Elmir Abbasov, a member of the N!DAH Youth Movement, in an interview.
“Whoever controls the money—derived from oil and gas revenue—also controls these institutions. This financial control allows the government to easily suppress any call for human rights or democracy.”
While the crackdowns and human rights violations still continue in Azerbaijan, what makes it so indispensable?
Since December 31, 2020, Azerbaijan has been exporting gas to Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). According to official Azerbaijani statistics, Italy stands as one of the country’s largest trading partners, with trade turnover exceeding $18 billion.
In 2021, Azerbaijan exported 6.1 billion cubic metres of gas to Italy, which increased to 8.21 billion cubic metres in 2022. However, the government sees further potential, aiming to increase exports to 20 billion cubic metres by 2027 to meet European demand.
Araz Aliyev, a member of the NIDA civic movement, believes that Azerbaijan’s growing role in Europe’s energy security has bolstered the government’s ability to suppress democratic freedoms.
“This gives Azerbaijani authorities more opportunities to openly silence democratic groups, civil society activists, and the free media,” Aliyev stated in an interview. “International organisations and Western countries, which pride themselves on their commitment to democracy, are increasingly making concessions to Azerbaijan due to its energy supply. The need for Azerbaijani energy renders the arrests and repression inside the country almost invisible.”
In addition, oil and gas revenues are critical for Azerbaijan, comprising more than 50% of the state budget. This reliance not only enriches a corrupt government but also contributes to environmental degradation and health issues for residents in oil-polluted areas.
According to a recent report by the Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization, gas production has led to pollution not only on land but also in the sea. The findings were published in the “Oil-Workers’ Rights Protection Organization Public Union Annual Report on 2023.”
“Thus, oil, gas, water, and mechanical mixtures are collected in oil tanks at the piers in Neft Dashlari, from where they are transferred to the park of oil storage tanks through pumps. During the monitoring, it was observed that in order to clean the sediments and formation water accumulated at the bottom of the oil storage tanks located on the field, the drawer at the bottom of the tank was opened and those harmful substances were discharged directly into the sea” – mentioned in the report.
The organisation’s chairman, Mirvari Gahramanli, expressed scepticism in an interview about COP29’s potential to drive positive environmental changes in Azerbaijan:
“International events and organisation memberships generally benefit a country, but hosting this conference will have no real effect on workers or the issues we focus on. The only visible improvement is that the sea’s surface appears cleaner now, though it used to be much dirtier. I still won’t let my grandchildren swim in the sea.”
Despite ongoing pressure, Gahramanli emphasises that the organisation remains committed to protecting workers’ rights, including supporting workers in legal battles.
“They still use outdated helicopters for worker transport. These helicopters date back to the 1960s, and recently, nearly 20 workers were put at risk because of it. Meanwhile, new helicopters with eight seats are used for the management team,” Gahramanli notes. She recalls a similar incident in 2015 that resulted in the deaths of at least 30 oil workers.
However according to the report workers in this field faces different challenges like:
- regular delay of the salaries of employees for more than a year in “Bahar Energy” Operating company
- The employees of the Azerbaijani branch of the Turkish company “ILK İnşaat” have not been paid for 3 months.
- driller worker at Shirvan Operating Company, was injured and lost his at least 2 finger and no help provided to him
- Employees are sometimes persecuted for their political views
So, who is the beneficiary of the COP29, people or government?
As the date of COP29 approaches, Azerbaijani authorities are announcing new restrictions almost daily. Recently, officials stated that several main roads in Baku will be closed for the event, advising residents to find alternative routes to the city centre. Additionally, several state institutions and government employees will work remotely throughout November due to COP29.
President Ilham Aliyev has personally visited the event venue at least twice, closely overseeing preparations. Since September, the COP29 corporate partners have been announced, with most of these companies reportedly linked to the president’s family or inner circle. This connection was highlighted in a recent OCCRP investigation titled “Official Partners of Azerbaijan’s COP29 Climate Summit Linked to Ruling Aliyev Family and Their Inner Circle,” published as part of the “Know Your Host” project.
While the government expects to profit from the event, many Baku residents are simply waiting for it to end so they can return to their regular routines.
This article was prepared with the support of JournalismFund Europe.
