Author: Elcin Alioglu, Trend
In connection with the COP29 climate summit, which will be held in Baku in 2024, some Western organizations are trying to increase pressure on Azerbaijan. To justify this, they claim that the country allegedly has “serious problems” in the field of human rights and democracy. In particular, structures such as Human Rights Watch and Freedom House call on the European Union and other international organizations to put pressure on Azerbaijan on the issue of “political prisoners” using the summit in Baku.
These accusations are a continuation of old tactics used by Western organizations that present biased reports, especially against Azerbaijan. At the same time, against the background of strengthening ties in the energy sector between the European Union and Azerbaijan, it is not difficult to understand that such accusations are aimed at greater political pressure.
An unexpected event occurred in the late 1990s, when the Freedom House organization discussed a report criticizing Azerbaijan regarding democracy and human rights in post-Soviet countries. Suddenly, the assistant to the organization’s regional director came in and said that an urgent call had been received from the US State Department. Just a few minutes later, the director returned to the meeting and made a brief statement: “We are changing the ‘language’ on the Azerbaijan section from criticism to affirmation of progress.” An interesting fact is that a few hours later it became known that on the same day an agreement was reached between Baku and AMOCO on previously unresolved issues. This incident was clear evidence of how the inner workings of organizations such as Freedom House work.
After such events, when the name Freedom House is mentioned, there is naturally a deep concern about the injustice of these institutions. Because for many years, by expressing biased criticism against Azerbaijan, they have been trying to keep our country under pressure in the international arena.
The non-governmental organization Freedom House has been known to be involved in a number of global political scandals in recent years. Noteworthy are the facts that it interferes in the internal affairs of many countries, supports certain political interests and influences international political processes. Considering the activities of Freedom House as an instrument serving the geopolitical interests of individual states that are far from objective, numerous experts emphasize that the main goal of this institution is not the promotion of democracy in the world, but the support of specific political goals.
The most obvious aspect of Freedom House’s activities is that it has close ties with various Western countries, especially the United States. This organization has been instrumental in US foreign policy for many years.
Freedom House operates only as an agency that serves the political purposes of the United States Department of State.
As evidence of this, the organization’s reports often include criticism of states that do not correspond to US strategic interests.
For example, in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq War, Freedom House produced numerous critical reports on Iraq that accused Saddam Hussein’s regime of human rights abuses. However, at the time, some analysts emphasized that this criticism was used to lend legitimacy to the United States military action against Iraq. Although some states close to the US allies had serious human rights problems during the same period, Freedom House did not seriously criticize these countries.
Freedom House is also known for various corruption scandals. For example, in 2010, Charles Lewis, a former employee of the organization, made serious statements about financial transparency and accountability in the organization. He accused the organization of non-transparent use of financial resources, saying that some of Freedom House’s grants from the US government and various foundations were diverted through illegal means. These accusations caused widespread resonance internationally and showed the true face of the organization.
In addition, in 2016, secret connections between the organization’s employees and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating under the guise of promoting democracy in a number of developing countries surfaced. The funding of these NGOs by the US government and participation in various activities to change the political regimes in these countries has received serious criticism. These facts showed that Freedom House does not simply act as an organization supporting NGOs, but rather, on the contrary, directs the activities of these NGOs in the interests of the United States.
One of the most controversial aspects of Freedom House’s activities is that it directly interferes in the internal affairs of a number of countries and uses various tools to change political regimes. For example, the role played by Freedom House during the Euromaidan in Ukraine in 2014 is particularly noteworthy. She played an active role in the processes aimed at overthrowing Viktor Yanukovych, providing logistical support to anti-government demonstrations in Ukraine. At the time, many political experts emphasized that Freedom House carried out these activities under the guise of promoting democracy, but its true goal was to bring Ukraine closer to the West and remove it from Russia’s sphere of influence.
Freedom House also participated in similar activities during anti-government demonstrations in the Philippines during the presidency of Benigno Aquino. Political analysts say the organization has actively worked to weaken the government and increase US influence in the region by providing significant financial support to the protest movement in the Philippines.
The activities of Freedom House have been sharply criticized by many political experts and analysts. Renowned political analyst Noam Chomsky called Freedom House “an instrument of Western soft power,” emphasizing that its activities have nothing to do with democracy and human rights: “Freedom House’s main goal is to keep pressure on the international arena.” states that do not correspond to the geopolitical interests of the West, and change political regimes in these countries.”
And the famous American political journalist Glenn Greenwald assesses the activities of Freedom House as “a provocation under the guise of democracy.” He states that the organization was used to support undemocratic regimes, especially in post-Soviet countries, and acted in these countries to create governments that served Western interests. Greenwald emphasizes that Freedom House in many cases violates the right to sovereignty by interfering in the internal affairs of these countries.
Scandals, accusations of corruption and evidence of interference in the internal affairs of countries call into question the officially stated goals of this organization. The activities of this organization, contrary to international law, give rise to serious problems, such as direct interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and manipulation of political processes.
As the COP29 summit approaches, attacks on Azerbaijan by forces closely linked to the Armenian lobby have also increased. Organizations such as Freedom House and Human Rights Watch are openly trying to isolate Azerbaijan in the international arena, without hiding their sympathies for Armenia.
For example, the activities of people of Armenian origin in the leadership of Freedom House further strengthens the biased position of this organization towards Azerbaijan. The organization regularly acts to damage the image of Azerbaijan by including distorted, fabricated and absurd “information” presented by Armenian “activists” in its reports.
These organizations, which do not take an objective and fair approach to the rights of Azerbaijan, at the same time openly ignore the rights of internally displaced persons in our country who have been subjected to aggression from Armenia. The fate of the Azerbaijanis, expelled from their homelands more than 30 years ago, is of no interest to Western human rights organizations.
COP summits have previously been held in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco and other countries. But at that time, neither Freedom House nor other Western “human rights” organizations made any noise on the issue of human rights. This fact once again proves that the accusations against Azerbaijan are actually related to political goals.
The purpose of attacks on Azerbaijan is only to increase political pressure. The campaigns carried out by these organizations under the guise of “human rights”, under the influence of the Armenian lobby, are nothing more than an attempt to damage the international reputation of Azerbaijan. However, no amount of pressure can influence the country’s determination to defend its national interests and defend its fair position at the international level.
Recently, reports disseminated by Freedom House have alleged that Azerbaijan has allegedly “committed ethnic cleansing and human rights violations.” Behind these accusations is distorted “information” provided by the Armenian side.
Azerbaijan has the right to protect its borders and, using this right, takes steps in accordance with international law. The position of the Azerbaijani state is based on internationally recognized and accepted norms and principles. Nevertheless, Freedom House and other biased organizations, ignoring the legitimate rights of Azerbaijan, are trying to keep our country under pressure in the international arena.
Freedom House’s close ties to the US State Department also clarify the goals behind its activities. This organization has been one of the “soft power” instruments used in US foreign policy for many years. Freedom House plays an important role, especially in projects that the United States implements under the guise of “democracy promotion.” Even today, some of the organization’s reports and initiatives are used to further certain State Department policy interests. This fact should be regarded as an integral part of the campaign of pressure carried out by some US circles on the foreign policy of Azerbaijan, based on independent, national interests.
Bias campaigns carried out by organizations such as Freedom House are part of large-scale pressure on Azerbaijan’s national interests. However, this pressure will never be able to influence the will of the Azerbaijani people to defend their sovereignty and independence.