UK Parliamentarians and various organisations sent a letter to Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, demanding to “stop enabling Azerbaijan to sportswash their crimes” ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Baku next September 15.

The complete letter:

Stefano Domenicali

President and CEO

Formula One Management Limited

No. 2, St. James’s Market

London SW1Y 4AH

CC: Gregory B. Maffei (President and CEO of Liberty Media Corporation)

September 2024

Baku Grand Prix and Azerbaijan’s ongoing human rights abuses

Dear Mr Domenicali,

Ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Baku, we write on behalf of six Armenian political prisoners – former leaders of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region – who are being unlawfully held hostage by Azerbaijani authorities.

The Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan include three former presidents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a former State Minister, a former Foreign Minister, and the former President of the National Assembly. The prisoners were captured when the Azerbaijani army was sent into Nagorno-Karabakh. After a ten month long absolute siege which denied local people food, fuel and basic medical supplies, Azerbaijan forced more than 120,000 Armenians to flee for safety. The Armenian prisoners have been refused a proper trial and access to independent international legal advice, or any visitors; and denied proper food or medical treatment. They endure severe mistreatment in violation of both domestic and international law, including the ICCPR and ECHR.

As the Grand Prix approaches, Formula 1’s presence risks distracting from Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses. Formula 1 cannot claim to have a positive impact in Azerbaijan while these Armenian hostages remain imprisoned. Profits must not come at the expense of human rights.

Formula 1 must stop enabling regimes like Azerbaijan to sportswash their crimes. By speaking out against this injustice and calling for the release of the Armenian political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Formula 1 can demonstrate its commitment to human rights in the countries it visits.

SIGNATORIES

Alex Sobel MP (UK House of Commons)

Andrew Rosindell MP (UK House of Commons)

Chris Law MP (UK House of Commons)

Baroness Cox (UK House of Lords)

Lord Alton of Liverpool (UK House of Lords)

Free Armenian Prisoners

Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust UK

Bishop Hovakim Manukyan (Primate of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland)

Armenian Community Council of the UK

Armenian National Committee UK

Armenian General Benevolent Union London

Armenian Youth Federation London

Armenian Relief Society of GB

The Armenian Institute

Armenian Medical Association GB

Armenian Relief Society of GB

Armenian Medical Association GB

Homenetmen London

Armenian Saturday

Armenian Language Saturday School, London

Hamazkayin UK