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Dear Mr. Domenicali,

I am writing to formally complain regarding the holding of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan this weekend. While Formula 1 is a globally respected sporting event, the association of your organisation with a regime that has a longstanding record of severe human rights abuses is highly troubling. Last year, Azerbaijan engaged in a military invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the forced displacement of over a hundred thousand ethnic Armenians amid an escalation of violence that has caused a profound humanitarian crisis.

Azerbaijan's military conquest of Nagorno-Karabakh last year was widely condemned by human rights organizations and the international community. This offensive, which violated multiple ceasefire agreements, left many civilians dead, displaced the entire population and further strained regional stability. In the wake of this aggression, Azerbaijan continues to illegally hold Armenian prisoners of war in Baku's prisons, where they are subject to torture, abuse, and denied their basic rights, in contravention of international law and the Geneva Conventions.

Beyond its military actions, Azerbaijan remains a repressive petro-dictatorship with a dismal record on press freedom, political opposition, and human rights. Freedom House gave Azerbaijan an overall score of 9 out of 100 in its global freedom ranking, with 0/4 for political rights and 1/16 for civil liberties. Azerbaijan is classified as "Not Free". Freedom of the press is severely restricted, with independent journalists often harassed, imprisoned, or forced into exile. In the 2023 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Azerbaijan ranks 151st out of 180 countries. The report highlights the lack of press freedom in the country, noting that journalists face constant surveillance, intimidation, and arrests.

The Azerbaijani regime uses its wealth derived from oil and gas to maintain its grip on power and silence dissent. Independent journalists are routinely persecuted, and opposition voices are either imprisoned or exiled. The regime continues to use prestigious events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix as a platform to sportswash its image, seeking to distract from its authoritarian practices and war crimes with the spectacle of international sport.

Formula 1 has a powerful global presence and commands an influential platform. By holding a Grand Prix in Baku, the sport risks legitimising a regime that uses violence, military conquest, and repression to maintain control, while violating basic human rights. Your event helps Azerbaijan conceal the realities of its governance and its blatant disregard for human dignity, including its actions against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and the ongoing unlawful detention of Armenian prisoners.

I believe that the integrity of Formula 1, as well as the sport's commitment to fairness, respect, and human rights, are compromised when events are hosted in countries that use sport as a facade for their crimes. A regime that engages in military invasions, suppresses free speech, and detains prisoners of war should not be granted the prestige that comes with hosting one of the world's premier sporting events.

I strongly urge Formula 1 to reconsider its decision to hold future events in Baku. The sport has a responsibility to align its values with ethical considerations, and to ensure that its brand is not associated with regimes that consistently undermine the principles of justice and human rights.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to engaging in further dialogue on this issue and hope Formula 1 will take a stand against enabling authoritarian regimes to launder their reputations through the world of sport.

Yours sincerely,