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International organization Human Rights Watch made a statement in which called on the British Petroleum (BP) which is the biggest oil company in Azerbaijan, to not cooperate with the authorities of the country which violates the rights of its own people. The statement is published on the site of the organization.

Human Rights Watch notes that BP and the government of Azerbaijan, a member of the same group, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), held a high-profile ceremony to mark the official start of a major new project to supply gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. BP helps lead EITI, a coalition of governments, companies, and nongovernmental groups to encourage better governance of resource-rich countries by fostering open public debate about how oil, gas, and mining revenues are used.

"Over many years, the management of the EITI has failed to protect the principle of the citizens’ participation in the government of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan violates the EITI rules, and this structure cannot allow itself to be involved in such hypocrisy. The government has made it almost impossible for majority of independent organizations to work in the country, and they have suspended their activities in the EITI. Their leaders fear of being arrested," said the senior HRW researcher Lisa Misol.

Active participation of civil society is EITI’s basic principle. Rules for the candidates and the Member States explicitly require respect for fundamental freedoms, although in practice these requirements were applied unevenly, according to the publication.

"Some time ago NGOs in Azerbaijan, faced constraints which hinder their work. In recent months, their situation has deteriorated sharply since the government froze their bank accounts or refused to register their grants. Pressures and constraints have forced majority of members of the coalition to suspend their activities. Authorities have also begun to politically motivate investigations of the alleged tax evasion or other offenses. BP, which is also a member of the EITI, should not cooperate with the government of Azerbaijan, "reads the statement.