In a disturbing incident that raises alarm over digital interference, Azerbaijani human rights defender Elchin Mammad, currently living in exile in Germany, has experienced the sudden disappearance of his established X (formerly Twitter) account, @ElchRights. The account, which was used to document human rights abuses in Azerbaijan and amplify the voices of political prisoners, appears to have been reset and replaced by a new account under the name @HumanDefen14699 – with all previous followers and posts wiped out.
Mammad noticed the change while attempting to log in as usual. Instead of accessing his verified profile, he found himself redirected to a blank profile with no record of his former content or engagement. The loss of access, visibility, and digital history has significantly disrupted his online advocacy efforts.
“I had never shared login credentials with anyone. I used the account only via secure devices. This unexpected change deeply concerns me – not just as a technical issue but as a potential act of repression,” said Mammad.
The issue occurred shortly after the public launch of the HumanRightsAZ.com platform — a volunteer-run English-language website founded by Mammad to expose the silenced stories and political repression in Azerbaijan.
While the source of the disruption remains unclear, Mammad suspects that state-affiliated actors may be behind the move. “It’s not just about me. It’s about how authoritarian regimes attempt to erase and silence dissident voices even in exile – now through digital means.”
Mammad has filed a report with the X platform’s support team and is awaiting a formal response. If necessary, he plans to escalate the issue through digital rights advocacy networks and emergency protection channels for human rights defenders.
This incident comes amid an increasingly hostile environment for independent voices from Azerbaijan – both at home and abroad – where surveillance, hacking, and intimidation are regularly reported by activists in exile.
HumanRightsAZ.com will continue monitoring and reporting on this case as a stark example of transnational repression and digital censorship.
“We turn silence into voice — and we won’t be digitally erased,” Mammad concludes.
Azərbaycan dili 
English (UK)