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In the armed forces of Azerbaijan abuse in the military was widespread and at times resulted in death. In 2012, impunity for abuses continued in Azerbaijan, the annual report on Human Rights Practices of the US State Department reads.

In the report of the Department of State it was noted that the local human rights organizations reported at least 97 deaths in the military during the year, 77 of which were not related to combat, including 11 soldiers killed by fellow servicemen and 19 suicides. Impunity for abuses continued.

The document also notes that local observers reported widespread bullying and abuse in military units during the year, including physical and sexual abuse. In one example, on July 31, the Ministry of Defense claimed that 19-year-old soldier Ismayil Ibayev shot himself while on duty; however, Ibayev’s family claimed his body bore signs of physical abuse, such as burns from cigarettes and bruises.

In general the report says that the most significant human rights problems in Azerbaijan are restrictions on freedom of expression including intimidation, arrest, and use of force against journalists and human rights and democracy activists online and offline, restrictions on freedom of assembly, unfair administration of justice, including continued reports of arbitrary arrest and detention, politically motivated imprisonment, lack of due process, executive influence over the judiciary, and lengthy pretrial detention.