The Annual Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan for 2025 has been submitted to the Milli Majlis.
Modern.az reports that the deputy made an extensive speech regarding the Ombudsman's report.
"The Reports submitted over the 25 years since its establishment - are a criterion of the Ombudsman's activity, a fundamental and legally defined and required official document for the effective exercise of exceptional powers in the field of human rights.
As noted in the “Introduction” section of the Report, the reporting year has been rich in historical achievements for Azerbaijan at national and international levels. “The Year of Constitution and Sovereignty” has been a year for a deeper study of our state's legislative policy and the new legal realities created by full sovereignty. The amnesty declared by President Ilham Aliyev in connection with 2025 - “The Year of Constitution and Sovereignty” covered more than 20,000 people.
In the 2025 Reporting Year, a new stage began in the country and the region with Azerbaijan's Victory, and a historic step was taken in the field of human rights, an achievement unparalleled by any country in the world – the initialing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is known that the right to peace is a fundamental human right recognized by the UN. The “Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace” was adopted by the UN General Assembly (in 1984). The Declaration states: “The right to peace is considered "the mother of all human rights" and the most essential right for the survival of humanity. “Peoples have a sacred right to peace.” The UN calls on states and international organizations to do their utmost to help realize the right of peoples to peace.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan remains the only state implementing a peace mission in the region.
There are many firsts in the preparation, structure, and content of the Reports. The Reports also form a database reflecting the indicators and dynamics of the Commissioner's activities in the field of human rights protection in independent Azerbaijan. The Ombudsman's activities are grouped into 3 chapters in the Report. For the first time, 7 new sub-chapters have been added.
The page volume of proposals and recommendations is more than last year - 12 pages. Compared to the 2024 report (78 proposals and recommendations), more - 94 proposals and recommendations - have been included, which represents not only a structural change but essentially a new, practical approach.
The number of diagrams has increased from last year's 6 (3 pages) to 20 diagrams - up to 10 pages.
There are significant innovations in the Ombudsman's annual report for 2025.
When reviewing the data on the restoration of violated rights and the prevention of violations in accordance with the Constitution and international treaties under “1.1. Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms”, the statistics and dynamics of appeals to the Ombudsman are of significant importance. In the 2025 Reporting Year, 42,685 appeals were received. This is 13,314 more appeals compared to 2024, when 29,371 appeals were received by the Ombudsman! The “916” call center received 14,718 calls, and legal advice was provided.
Overall, the statistics and dynamics of appeals to the Ombudsman over the last 15 years show an interesting trend. The increasing difference in the number of appeals (13,314) in the submitted report is equal to the total annual number of appeals made in 2011-2015! The analysis of this phenomenon is not only related to the increase in population but also reflects an attitude towards the activities of other government bodies. In the last 15 years, the number of appeals has been lower than the previous year only twice: in 2015 and 2022.
An important issue reflected in the reports of previous years has been included in the document. It is noted that in 2025, as a result of measures taken by relevant state bodies, the repatriation of 18 citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan (5 women, 13 children) from the Syrian Arab Republic to the country was ensured. However, there is a need to allocate a separate section to the issue of our citizens who lost their lives and were injured in the Russia-Ukraine war. State security agencies and the Prosecutor General's Office are rightly taking strict measures. The Commissioner's institution has important powers to protect the lives of Azerbaijanis - first and foremost, there is a need for joint efforts with the ombudsmen of both countries.
Appeals received by the Ombudsman regarding the judicial guarantee of rights and freedoms primarily reflected instances such as delays due to prolonged court proceedings, violations of procedural legal norms during judicial investigations, dissatisfaction with the actions (or inactions) of judges, including non-compliance with ethical conduct rules by judges during court proceedings, untimely provision of copies of adopted court decisions to process participants, thereby restricting the right to appeal to a higher instance court, as well as non-execution of court decisions that have entered into legal force, and violations of ethical conduct rules by enforcement officers. However, the eventual establishment of a special enforcement institution for the execution of court decisions will achieve a certain breakthrough.
Regarding the right to health protection, it is emphasized that there is a need to strengthen measures for providing primary medical care, home medical services, specialized treatment, and medication to vulnerable population groups – children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income families – taking into account their age, health status, social status, and special needs. However, the part of the Report that deserves special attention is the focus on statistics related to doctor shortages.
Quote - The discrepancy between the number of doctors and the population in the regions of Azerbaijan is one of the main difficulties in ensuring equal access to healthcare services. The discrepancy between the number of doctors and the population in the regions of Azerbaijan is one of the main difficulties in ensuring equal access to healthcare services. Thus, according to the report of the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan titled “Healthcare, Social Protection, and Housing Conditions in Azerbaijan”, as of the beginning of 2025, the number of doctors per 10,000 population is 101.7 for Baku city, 24.5 for Ganja-Dashkasan economic region, 14.9 for Nakhchivan economic region, 13.0 for Guba-Khachmaz economic region, 10.8 for Mountainous Shirvan economic region, 9.7 for Lankaran-Astara economic region, and 8.6 for Mil-Mughan economic region. In particular, the extremely low number of doctors relative to the population and the shortage of qualified personnel in Dashkasan (8 people), Gadabay (61 people), Ujar (55 people), Zardab (47 people), Yardimli (39 people), and Lerik (38 people) districts cause concern. This situation is one of the main factors hindering the implementation of the principle of accessibility of medical-social assistance for all, enshrined in the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the Protection of Population Health”, as well as the right of citizens to receive quality and equal medical assistance.
The Report notes that the increasing number of drug addiction and toxicomania patients in the country in recent years is a cause for concern. These diseases pose a threat to the physical and mental development of the younger generation, weaken the institution of the family, negatively affect the gene pool of the population as a whole, and create a serious problem for the health potential of future generations.
A statistic that forms the most important part of the activities of the internal affairs bodies allows us to see the real picture. Note that in 2023, the volume of narcotic drugs withdrawn from circulation was approximately 4.4 tons, in 2024 it was 4.7 tons, and in 2025 it was 5 tons 675 kilograms. On the one hand, drug smuggling and circulation appear to have increased, but on the other hand, control measures have also been strengthened. In 2025, 2 tons 724 kilograms of narcotic substances were dealt with precisely through electronic means - with the help of digital systems.
Among the issues in the Report regarding the guarantee of housing rights, the main causes of dissatisfaction were that the compensation provided to residents in connection with construction and development works carried out mainly in Baku city was significantly lower than the market price, that the amount was insufficient to purchase suitable housing in the relevant area, and in some cases, demolition works were carried out without compensation being paid. In this regard, new policy measures from the Government are needed.
The Ombudsman has extensive international relations and activities. It has a strong mandate. At the same time, the measures taken by the Commissioner's institution in the face of campaigns conducted by international human rights institutions against our country are commendable.
The Ombudsman addressed a letter to the Executive Director of the international non-governmental organization “Human Rights Watch” regarding the reflection of biased information about Azerbaijan in its 2024 report, noting that the issue of Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from Armenia was not addressed in the report, and called for reliance on verified facts when preparing such reports".
