Biography

Dr. Ahmad Shahidov

Was born:

• 31 August 1982, Gakh, Azerbaijan

Education:

• 2009-2014 – Bachelor of Law in Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
• 2006-2009 – Ph.D on Philology in Baku Slavic University
• 2003-2005 – Master of Linguistics in Baku Slavic University
• 1999-2003 – Bachelor of Philology in Baku Slavic University

Work Experience:

• June 2014 – Present – Head of Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights
• February 2013 – 2014 – Secretary General of TURSAM Center for Strategic Studies
• May 2011 – 2012 – Assistant of MP in Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan
• September 2009 – 2010 – Teacher on international relations in Baku Slavic University
• May 2005 – 2008 – Head of Azerbaijan Office in “New Russian Word”
• March 2002 – 2005 – Freelance journalist and blogger
• September 1999 – 2002 – Correspondent in “Free Azerbaijan” Newspaper

Language skills:

• Azerbaijani, English, Russian, Turkish

In social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shahidovcom
• Twitter: @shahidovcom
• Instagram: shahidovcom

Activity in the international arena:

• A conference on the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Girne, Turkish Republic of Nothern Cyprus, May 2018
• Meeting with Rati Ionatamishvili, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration of the Georgian Parliament, Tbilisi, Georgia, May 2018
• Conference on “Azerbaijan-Georgia: 100 Years of Our Republics”, Tbilisi, Georgia, May 2018
• Meeting with Dr. Anne Lindboe, Norwegian Ombudsman, Oslo, Norway, April 2018
• Protest action in front of the Armenian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, March 2018
• Meeting in the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Warsaw, Poland, March 2018
• Seminar entitled “Khojaly Genocide – Turkish Black Night” at Mustafa Kaynak Anatolian High School, Denizli, Turkey, February 2018
• Conference “The Khojaly genocide and Karabakh issue” at Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey, February 2018
• A photo exhibition featuring the horrors of the Khojaly genocide at Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey, February 2018
• A conference on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey, February 2018
• A conference on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Istanbul Altinbash University, Istanbul, Turkey, February 2018
• A conference on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University, Istanbul, Turkey, February 2018
• Meeting with Ombudsman of Albania Mrs. Erinda Ballanca, Tirana, Albania, February 2018
• Meeting the Albanian Christian religious leader Dr. Anastasios Yannoulatos, February 2018
• Meeting with Turkish Ambassador in Budapest Mr. Ahmet Akif Oktay, Budapest, Hungary, January 2018
• The Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France, January 2018
• A conference on Solidarity Day and New Year celebration at the Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, Turkish Republic of Nothern Cyprus, December 2017
• Speech at the European Parliament’s Human Rights Subcommittee meeting, Brussels, Belgium, November 2017
• Meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the TRNC in Budapest Mrs. Selda Chimen, Budapest, Hungary, November 2017
• Meeting with the High Commissioner for Refugees and Migrants of Republic of Serbia Mr. Vladimir Cucic, Belgrade, Serbia, November 2017
• Meeting with the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Vladimir Marinkovic, Belgrade, Serbia, November 2017
• Meeting with the Ombudsman of Republic of Serbia Mr. Zoran Pashalich, Belgrade, Serbia, November 2017
• Meeting with the Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mrs. Jasminka Dzumhur, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 2017
• OSCE Conference on “The Role of Media in Counteracting of Disinformation, “Hate Speech” and Radicalization”, Vienna, Austria, November 2017
• The Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) on the topic of The Role of the Free Media in the Comprehensive Approach to Security, Vienna, Austria, November 2017
• OSCE Conference on “Human Rights and National Security of Countries”, Vienna, Austria, October 2017
• OSCE Conference on “Determining the unlawful nature of third-party content – what does it mean in practice?”, Vienna, Austria, October 2017
• Meeting with the head of program department of the Cordelia Foundation Mrs. Dorottya Atal, Budapest, Hungary, October 2017
• Meeting with Head of the Central European University Center for Policy Studies Dr. Andrew Cartwright, Budapest, Hungary, October 2017
• Protest action in front of the Armenian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Humanitarian issues and other commitments: refugees and displaced persons”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Economic, social and cultural rights as an answer to rising inequalities”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Rule of law: prevention of torture, abolition of capital punishment and fighting terrorism”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Humanitarian issues and other commitments: aggressive nationalism, racism and chauvinism”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Tolerance and non-discrimination: rights of national minorities, aggressive nationalism, racism and chauvinism”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Ensuring equal enjoyment of rights and equal participation in political and public life”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) on the topic of “Democratic institutions, democracy and elections”, Warsaw, Poland, September 2017
• A ceremony on the 28 May – Republic Day of Azerbaijan at Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, May 2017
• Conference on “Friendship, brotherhood and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkey in the eyes of youths” at Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University, Istanbul, Turkey, May 2017
• Conference on “The role of youth in development of the Azerbaijani-Georgian relations”, Tbilisi, Georgia, May 2017
• 14th South Caucasus Media Conference organized by OSCE, Tbilisi, Georgia, May 2017
• Meeting with Mr. Ambassador Igor Dzundev, the Director of Multilateral Cooperation Department of MFA of Macedonia, Skopje, Macedonia, April 2017
• Meeting with the Member of Parliament from Party for Movement of the Turks in Macedonia Mr. Enes Ibrahim, Skopje, Macedonia, April 2017
• Meeting with famous armenian human rights activist and politician Vahe Avetian, Stockholm, Sweden, April 2017
• A conference on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Istanbul Culture University, Istanbul, Turkey, February 2017
• A conference on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University, Istanbul, Turkey, February 2017
• International conference on “Human rights-based approach to conflict situations in the Arab region”, Doha, Qatar, February 2017
• Meeting with Member of the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament), National Hero of Ukraine Mrs. Nadejda Savchenko, Kiev, Ukraine, January 2017
• Meeting with Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights Organisation Mr. Gibril Deen, Budapest, Hungary, January 2017
• OSCE Media Conference “Propaganda of hatred in the media: self-regulation & journalism ethics”, Vienna, Austria, December 2016
• The 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council, Hamburg, Germany, December 2016
• OSCE Human Dimension Seminar “Promoting effective and integral justice systems: how to ensure the independence and quality of the judiciary”, Warsaw, Poland, November 2016
• The 3rd OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) on the topic of National Minorities, Bridge Building and Integration, Vienna, Austria, November 2016
• OSCE 2nd Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on the topic of “Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media with a Special Focus on Conflict Situations, Including Protection of Journalists and Reporting during Armed Conflict”, Vienna, Austria, October 2016
• OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, Poland, September 2016
• Meeting with Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Warsaw, Poland, March 2016
• “Think Budapest” Forum, Budapest, Hungary, March 2016
• Meeting with PACE President Pedro Agramunt, March 2016
• UN 31st regular session of the Human Rights Council , Geneva, Switzerland, February 2016
• Hearing in the European Parliament on “Anti-Semitism and Islam phobia”, February 2016
• OSCE Meeting on “Propaganda for war and hatred is detrimental to free expression and media freedom,” Vienna, Austria, February 2016
• Meeting with Adrien-Claude Zoller, President of Geneva for Human Rights (GHR), February 2016
• Meeting with Cyril Ritchie, President of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with the United Nations (CoNGO), Geneva, Switzerland, February 2016
• Winter Session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Strasbourg, France, February 2016
• The regional conference on the Role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the Arab Region, Doha, Qatar, February 2016
• European Parliament’s hearing on “Religion, Security and Human Rights”, Brussels, Belgium, December 2015
• Standing Committee Meeting of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Sofia, Bulgaria, November 2015
• Meeting with Anne Brasseur, President of PACE, Sofia, Bulgaria, November 2015
• Meeting with Sebastiaan Van Der Zwaan, Executive Director of Justice and Peace Netherlands, Hague, Netherlands, November 2015
• International Forum “TRANSEUROPE – Civil Society Network”, Rovereto, Italy, November 2015
• The 4th Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, Geneva, Switzerland, November 2015
• Meeting with Dr. Mmantsetsa Marope, Director of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education, Geneva, Switzerland, November 2015
• Meeting in International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, Switzerland, November 2015
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Warsaw, Poland, September 2015
• The international conference under the titled of “Combating Hate Speech and Extremism” is organized by the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar (NHRC), Doha, Qatar, September 2015
• Autumn Session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Strasbourg, France, September 2015
• OSCE Conference “Freedom of Religion or Belief, Fostering Mutual Respect and Understanding”, Vienna, Austria, July 2015
• Meeting with US Senators John McCain, Bratislava, Slovakia, June 2015
• Meeting with President of Croatia Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Bratislava, Slovakia, June 2015
• Meeting with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, Bratislava, Slovakia, June 2015
• Meeting with President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Bratislava, Slovakia, June 2015
• GLOBSEC 2015 Security Forum, Bratislava, Slovakia, June 2015
• OSCE Conference “Journalists’ Safety, Media Freedom and Pluralism in Times of Conflict”, Vienna, Austria, June 2015
• Meeting with Director of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) Republic of Latvia, Riga, Latvia, May 2015
• Meeting with Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Latvia, Riga, Latvia, May 2015
• Meeting in the Office of the Chancellor of Justice of Estonia, Tallin, Estonia, May 2015
• Eastern Partnership Summit, Riga, Latvia, May 2015
• Meeting with Czech Ombudsman, Brno, Czech Republic, April 2015
• Meeting with Director of Slovenian Peace Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 2015
• Meeting with Slovenian Ombudsman, Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 2015
• Meeting with President of Slovenian National Council, Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 2015
• Meeting with Croatian People’s Ombudsman, Zagreb, Croatia, April 2015
• OSCE’s Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association, Vienna, Austria, April 2015
• Meeting with Austrian Ombudsman Günther Kräuter, Geneva, Switzerland, April 2015
• 7th Annual Geneva Summit on Human Rights and Democracy, Geneva, Switzerland, February 2015
• 10th Anniversary of the OSCE’s Berlin Conference on Anti-Semitism: High-Level Commemorative Event and Civil Society Forum, Berlin, Germany, November 2014
• 11th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference: Public Service Broadcasting in the Digital Age, Tbilisi, Georgia, November 2014
• OSCE Meeting “Ethical Issues in Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking”, Vienna, Austria, November 2014
• OSCE Meeting “Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Economic Crisis” in Vienna, Austria, October 2014
• Meeting in Council of Europe Parliament Assembly, Strasbourg, France, October 2014
• Meeting in European Parliament, Brussel, Belgium, October 2014
• Meeting in Community for Democracy, Warsaw, Poland, September 2014
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of OSCE, Warsaw, Poland, September 2014
• International conference held by Russian Presidental Academy, Moscow, February 2014
• Speech in German Bundestag, Berlin, Germany, October 2013
• Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of OSCE, Warsaw, Poland, September 2013