Azerbaijan's Human Rights Report for 2025: Proposed Reforms and Lingering Concerns

Sabina Aliyeva

The Milli Majlis' Human Rights Committee recently met to talk about the 2025 annual report from Azerbaijan's human rights commissioner (Ombudsman). Sabina Aliyeva presented this year's report, which suggests several legal and social changes to improve the country's policies. Still, some in the human rights field continue to question some long-standing problems.

One of the main topics in the report is improving educational opportunities for young people in prison. The Ombudsman suggests creating a system that allows minors and those convicted of less serious, non-violent offenses to take university entrance exams. The goal is to help them rehabilitate and rejoin society through education.

The report also mentions military service deferments for those studying through distance learning. Currently, these students don't have the same deferment options as full-time students. The Ombudsman thinks this should be fixed to ensure they can continue their education without disruption.

To keep up with international standards, the report recommends bringing back transportation subsidies. The government ended most fare discounts in 2002, and now students, retirees, and people with disabilities pay full price for transportation. The Ombudsman wants to reinstate these discounts to assist vulnerable people.

The report also suggests adding more modern buses to Baku. The aim is to encourage people to use public transportation instead of private cars, which could help reduce traffic jams in the city center.

How disability status is evaluated is still a controversial issue. After some recent legal changes, many people have complained that it's now harder to get disability certifications. The Ombudsman wants to simplify the evaluation process, but some experts feel the requirements have been intentionally tightened, making it harder for those who need it to get state support.

Despite these recommendations, the Ombudsman's office is still facing criticism from local human rights advocates. They argue that since the office was created in 2002, it hasn't officially documented or reported any cases of torture in the country's detention centers and prisons.

Some advocates say that the Ombudsman's findings often align with the official statements of law enforcement, instead of acting as an independent check on their power. Some see the 2025 report as another missed chance to seriously address abuse and legal issues within the prison system.

The Commissioner for Human Rights office was established in 2002. After almost 20 years under Elmira Suleymanova, Sabina Aliyeva took over in 2019. Her appointment has often been viewed from a political angle, as she is married to Siyavush Novruzov, a Member of Parliament and a high-ranking member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP).