Washington – Following introduction in the U.S. Congress of a resolution to strengthen rule of law and respect for human rights in Azerbaijan, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“As one of the most repressive regimes in the world, Azerbaijan continues to violate human rights with impunity, attacking civil society, human rights defenders, and independent media,” said Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “This resolution rightly calls on the United States to hold human rights abusers accountable by applying sanctions through the Global Magnitsky law, and calls on the government of Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners. We urge Congress to pass the measure without delay.”
Background:
H.Res.537 was introduced on September 26, 2017 by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-4) and Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA-2).
Azerbaijan is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2017, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2017, and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2016, and receives a democracy score of 6.93, on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the worst possible score, in Nations in Transit 2017. 
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports democratic change, monitors the status of freedom around the world, and advocates for democracy and human rights.
