ILN Submits Letter of Allegations – Legal Opinion to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers
On 10 October 2025, the Independent Lawyers Network (ILN) submitted a detailed 10-page letter of allegation, including a comprehensive legal opinion, to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers concerning the draft amendments to the Law “On Advocates and Advocacy Activity” in Azerbaijan. The submission highlighted serious concerns that the proposed amendments would further erode the independence, self-governance, and institutional autonomy of the legal profession.
Independent lawyers form a small but highly influential part of the legal community in repressive contexts. They often risk their liberty and professional future to defend individuals under de facto state captivity. While meaningful justice may not be immediately achievable in systems lacking judicial independence and separation of powers, independent lawyers play a critical role in documenting abuse, exposing systemic violations, and preserving legal records that contribute to accountability before law and history.
In Azerbaijan, a decade-long crackdown on civil society, media, and political activism has increasingly targeted the legal profession. Recent years have seen arbitrary arrests, abusive disciplinary proceedings, licence suspensions, and criminal prosecutions against prominent human rights lawyers. At the same time, the newly proposed legislative amendments risk consolidating executive control over the Bar Association, undermining democratic safeguards within the profession, and weakening access to effective legal assistance.
Following ILN’s communication, the UN Special Rapporteur formally communicated these concerns to the Government of Azerbaijan. The communication, published on 15 December 2025, raises questions regarding the compatibility of the draft amendments with international standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990), and requests clarification from the authorities.
ILN remains committed to defending the institutional independence of the legal profession as an essential pillar of the rule of law and fair trial guarantees.
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