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Human rights abuses may taint the first European Games unless the European Olympic Committees and key National Olympic Committees urge the Azerbaijani government to release unjustly imprisoned journalists and activists, Sport and Rights Alliance of international human rights and sports organizations said. The statement is published on the website of Human Rights Watch.

It is highlighted in the statement that the fact that the Azerbaijani government is paying athletes’ expenses should not interfere with the ability of the 50 participating National Olympic Committees to speak out and defend Olympic principles and values.

Amnesty International Netherlands director, Eduard Nazarski, noted that the European Olympic Committees are in a unique position to raise these pressing human rights concerns with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. Otherwise, the European Olympic Committees risk sending a message that it is acceptable for the Azerbaijani government to silence critics while hosting an event.

In a letter sent to the president of the European Olympic Committees, Patrick Hickey, the alliance urged to speak out against Azerbaijan’s harsh crackdown against government critics and worsening environment for media freedom. The crackdown on media and independent groups could have a negative impact on the work of the thousands of journalists covering the Baku Games.

The Sport and Rights Alliance called on the European Olympic Committees to use leverage with Azerbaijan to take three steps before the June 12 opening ceremony: immediately and unconditionally release all unjustly imprisoned journalists and human rights activists, end the harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention and politically motivated prosecution of human rights of activists, lawyers, journalists, opposition members and refrain from the arbitrary denial of registration of nongovernmental groups by toughening the law .

 “The Azerbaijani government is investing billions of dollars and vast amounts of energy in the European Games and in other sports events while aggressively pursuing those who criticize or challenge the authorities. Media outlets and nongovernmental organizations have been shut down and Amnesty International has identified at least 20 prisoners of conscience, behind bars on trumped up criminal charges that can carry very long prison sentences,’’ Nazarski noted.

In his turn Azerbaijani blogger Arzu Geybulla writes about “the ridiculous amounts of money, the construction sites (that no one is going to use once these games are over), the copious amounts of statements on how great these games are going to be,” on which so much money was spent. Still, as the blogger notes, Azerbaijani government cannot cope with the problem of traffic jams in the country, where one can stuck for hours, as there are too many cars and too little roads in the city; moreover, there are drivers who bought their driving licenses and cannot drive.

The blogger highlights that the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has decided to change the working schedule of governmental and non-governmental sector, according to which from May 1 to July 1, people will work in shifts.

“Clearly this is done to show off. Let’s say this resolves the traffic jam problem what is going to happen after the games? Back to the normal working schedule and back to the endless traffic jams? Is this decision really about the people or about the visitors?” Geybulla wonders adding that the government has also advised not to hold any wedding ceremonies and prohibited to set up any mourning tents.

As the blogger has it, the European Games are not only costing billions of dollars but also change people's schedules to work, marry and even to die.

Related:

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Aliyev’s authoritarian regime uses European Games to satisfy its ambitions

HRW: EOC and National Olympic Committees should make clear to Baku that it is making mockery of Olympic ideals

Amnesty International publishes report documenting cases of crackdowns by Azerbaijani authorities

NGO coalition warned EOC president about crackdowns in Azerbaijan prior to European Games