Formula 1 has been holding Grand Prix races in Azerbaijan since 2017. 

As an international sporting event, Formula 1 has a responsibility to host its tournaments in countries that are welcoming to people of all races and genders.

However, Azerbaijan ranks as the 9th LEAST free country in the world based on Freedom House’s 2022 index [1].

Azerbaijan also has a history of severe Armenophobia & genocidal tendencies towards the Armenian people that manifest in a multitude of ways. This makes it impossible for the Armenian people to safely participate in Formula 1’s Grand Prix. 

1) People of Armenian descent, even if they’re citizens of other countries, face restrictions entering Azerbaijan [2].

2) Azerbaijan’s leaders have a history of making genocidal sentiments towards the Armenian people. 

There is no shortage of these quotes, but as a few examples, current Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev has expressed “Armenia is not even a colony, it is not worthy of being a servant.” [3]

Baku’s former mayor, Hajibala Abutalibov openly announced to the German delegation “Our goal is the complete elimination of Armenians. You Nazis already eliminated the Jews in the 1930s and 40s, right? You should be able to understand us.” [4]

3) As recently as September 13, 2022, Azerbaijan instigated an invasion on the borders of Armenia. The invasion included heavy attacks on 36 civilian towns & settlements [5]. These attacks on civilian settlements in Armenia have been commonplace since 2020 [6]. 

4) Azerbaijani military violence towards the Armenian people has always been encouraged and rewarded. 

Since 2020, Azerbaijani military regularly release videos of the torture, mutilations and executions of Armenian civilians and prisoners of war [7]. Most recently, they released a video of Anush Apetyan, a former farmer who took up arms protecting Armenia in the September 2022 invasions. In the video, she was raped by military officials. One eye was gouged out, fingers were severed, her legs were cut off, and she was partially decapitated for all the world to see [7]. 

These military officials had no fear of consequences by their superiors, re-enforcing that this behavior towards Armenians is encouraged. For example, when Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani lieutenant, murdered Gurgen Margaryan in his sleep with an axe in Budapest during a NATO Partnership for Peace Program he was pardoned, promoted, and awarded the title “Man of the Year” for his actions [8].

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has recently released multiple statements, including a Red Flag Alert and the sentiment that “The Lemkin Institute believes that Azerbaijan is committing slow genocide — genocide by a thousand cuts” [7]. They called on the world to “take immediate action” [7].

Furthermore, the Lemkin Institute has announced that “Governments, organizations, companies, and agencies that continue to empower these genocidal states are currently and will continue to be complicit in these atrocity crimes.” [7]

FORMULA 1 – THIS INCLUDES YOU.

The Grand Prix in Azerbaijan has brought in over 500 million dollars to Azerbaijan’s economy – which contributes to the military carrying out these crimes against humanity [9].

We reiterate – It is the responsibility of sporting organizations to ensure its events are held in countries that are accessible and safe for people all races.

Formula 1 - CEO Stefano Domenicali - We ask that you do the responsible thing and move the Grand Prix out of Azerbaijan!

 

CITATIONS

[1] Freedom House. (n.d.). Countries and Territories. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-world/scores

[2] Azerbaijan Travel Restrictions and Alerts. (2022, August 10). Azerbaijan Visa. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.visasazerbaijan.com/travel-restrictions/

[3] Ilham Aliyev on. (2015, January 29). Twitter. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://twitter.com/presidentaz/status/560718307515318272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[4] The Caucasus: Frozen Conflicts and Closed Borders. U.S. Government Printing Office, June 18, 2008, p. 50 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-110hhrg43066/pdf/CHRG-110hhrg43066.pdf

[5] Azerbaijan Launches Large-Scale Attack Against Armenia. (2022, September 20). EVN Report. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://evnreport.com/politics/azerbaijan-launches-large-scale-attack-against-armenia/

[6] Lemkin Institute Statement on Azerbaijan’s breach of the established ceasefire agreement and its unprovoked attack on Armenia. (n.d.). Lemkin Institute. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/lemkin-institute-statement-on-azerbaijan’s-breach-of-the-established-ceasefire-agreement-and-its-unprovoked-attack-on-armenia?fbclid=IwAR3bGa22AuTzwvzeDpRYpsN19jE5cq8ViJkq0n7gfdYBmYrtNhs_ypBd9o8

[7] Red Flag Alert - Azerbaijan Update. (2022, September). Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.lemkininstitute.com/red-flag-alerts-1/red-flag-alert---azerbaijan-update

[8] Wikipedia contributors. (2022, September 17). Ramil Safarov. Wikipedia. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramil_Safarov

[9] Cooper, A. (2020, January 15). Azerbaijan GP claims $500m boost from hosting F1 race. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/baku-500m-boost-hosting-race/4651694/amp/