We are deeply concerned about restrictions on access to social media platforms in Azerbaijan and the fact that users are being forced to rely on VPNs to access the internet. Free access to the internet, the ability to obtain information, and the freedom to communicate are integral parts of fundamental human rights and freedoms.
These restrictions also affect the safety of vulnerable groups, particularly the LGBTQI+ community. For many people, social media and digital platforms are essential tools for connecting with support networks, accessing reliable information, reporting incidents of violence and discrimination, and communicating with others. Restricting internet access interferes with people’s right to access information. Such measures fail to meet the principles of necessity and proportionality and unjustifiably restrict people’s fundamental rights.
Azerbaijani society has experienced similar restrictions before, including during the Second Karabakh War in 2020. That experience demonstrated how internet restrictions can seriously undermine people’s ability to access information and support one another, without directly addressing the underlying issue.
Qıy Vaar! calls for the restoration of access to the internet and social media platforms and demands respect for our rights.
Access to information is not a privilege, it is a right. Laws must not isolate people who need support and reliable information.
