Preface
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is a Norway-based, internationally oriented human rights organisation that advocates for countries to respect and uphold international human rights, democratic principles, and the rule of law. We run projects in Norway, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and globally, supporting civil society organisations in human rights work, documenting human rights abuses and serious international crimes, and fighting against impunity. We are members of some of the largest international networks of human rights organisations, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC).
The NHC works to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or sexual identity, have fundamental freedoms, can participate in free and democratic elections, and benefit from the rule of law. We employ various methods, including reporting on human rights violations, observing elections, developing documentation databases, and teaching human rights to students and politically engaged young people. We publish articles, reports, books, and video interviews, and participate in campaigns to encourage authorities to prioritise human rights. Through social media, we raise awareness and foster political will to confront abuses and promote respect for human rights.
A significant part of our work focuses on strengthening human rights organisations, defenders, whistleblowers, journalists, and lawyers. We are primarily dedicated to supporting individuals, groups, and networks that are most vulnerable to human rights violations.
Like many other human rights groups, we strive to inform intergovernmental organisations about human rights issues within their member states. We believe these organisations can play a vital role in advising, advocating, and teaching states how to fulfil their international obligations to respect and protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
For European states, the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) play vital roles in this respect, alongside the United Nations. In this report, we examine Azerbaijan's failure to meet its commitments since joining the Council of Europe in 2001. Even though it was widely recognised that the country was far from meeting the membership criteria at the time of accession, there was also widespread hope that membership would guide the country in the right direction.
Unfortunately, this report presents a different story. Instead of the Council of Europe influencing Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan challenges the very integrity and authority of the organisation. By failing to execute the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, organising free and fair elections, and denying courts and media the ability to function independently, Azerbaijan fails to uphold the rights of its own citizens. However, it also weakens the Council of Europe, which has some of the most advanced regional human rights systems in the world.
We hope the report will prompt coordinated efforts by both the Council of Europe Member States and the Council of Europe itself to address this fragile situation effectively and in a coordinated manner. In the end, Azerbaijan must comply with membership requirements or eventually cease to be recognised as a member.
Berit Lindeman
Secretary General
Oslo, 11 December 2025