Greta Thunberg Leads Protest Against COP29 in Azerbaijan

Climate activist Greta Thunberg attended a rally in Georgia to protest Azerbaijan hosting COP29 due to its repressive policies. Thunberg condemned Azerbaijan for using the summit to improve its image and accused it of human rights abuses. Critics argue Azerbaijan's clean energy projects aim to facilitate more oil exports.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined a rally in Georgia on Monday, speaking out against Azerbaijan hosting the annual United Nations climate talks. The protest, which took place in Tbilisi, the capital of this South Caucasus nation, aimed to highlight Azerbaijan's repressive policies.

Thunberg and fellow activists argue that Azerbaijan does not deserve to host the climate talks, known as COP29, which opened in Baku. The country, a major oil producer, has been accused by Thunberg of being a "repressive, occupying state" and has drawn criticism for alleged ethnic cleansing and cracking down on civil society.

Despite Azerbaijan's commitment to clean energy projects, detractors claim these efforts are a guise to expand oil and gas exports. President Ilham Aliyev, who has been in power since 2003, faces allegations of stifling dissent, with critics pointing to his victory in a recent election, criticized by international observers for its lack of genuine competition.

(With inputs from agencies.)