Third Republic Platform (ResPlatform) recently published a critical statement (11/2024, November 8, 2024) regarding the upcoming COP29 international event, which will be held in Baku from November 11 to 22, 2024.

ResPlatform’s statement is grounded in relevant provisions of its statute and the Post-Karabakh Agenda, one of the core objectives of which is to reduce the consequences of climate change. The statement notes that ResPlatform is Azerbaijan's political landscape's first and only political organisation with a green agenda. ResPlatform’s statement cites international human rights obligations, including the Paris Agreement, and emphasises that climate change and human rights are inextricably linked, necessitating adherence to global human rights commitments in the fight against climate change.

The statement then expresses grave concern over the severe deterioration of human rights in Azerbaijan since November 2023. It points out that the Azerbaijani government has engaged in an unprecedented level of repression against political opposition, independent civil society, and critical media. ResPlatform highlights explicitly the cases of Akif Gurbanov, its speaker and leader, and Ruslan Izzatli, its founding board member, who have been arbitrarily detained since March 2024 as victims of this political crackdown.

ResPlatform urges COP29 participants to take several key actions based on these concerns. These include publicly and unequivocally condemning the worsening human rights situation and calling for the immediate release and full restoration of rights for victims of political repression, such as Gurbanov and Izzatli. Furthermore, ResPlatform implores COP participants to visit these individuals in detention.

The full text of ResPlatform’s COP29 statement is enclosed with this press release.

(URL: https://resplatform.org/en/articles/resplatforms-cop29-statement)

ResPlatform is a political movement established on 07 December 2023 by a group of Azerbaijani politicians who came together under the ideals of decentralised democracy and the rule of law, seeking to encourage political participation.

Important note: The abbreviation “ResPlatform” should be used when referring to the Third Republic Platform.

For more information about the statement:

Elman Fattah, Founding Board member

Email: info@resplatform.org