The Europa League final between Arsenal and Chelsea has come under fresh criticism after Amnesty International condemned host country Azerbaijan for its “appalling human rights record”.

Baku’s Olympic Stadium is staging the all-English showdown next Wednesday and is also the venue for four games in next year’s European Championship.

But the decision to stage the Europa League showpiece in the ex-Soviet republic has been strongly criticised by fans and human rights groups and, on Tuesday, Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan said he will not travel to the game amid fears for his safety in a country that is locked in a simmering conflict with his native Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

In a statement, Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: “Fans will be glued to their TVs during this game but we must ensure that Azerbaijan isn’t allowed to ‘sportswash’ its appalling human rights record as a result of the football fanfare.

“Azerbaijan is in the grip of a sinister human rights crackdown, with journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders being ruthlessly targeted. Unfair trials and smear campaigns remain commonplace.

Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Show all 26 1 /26 Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Chelsea 2018/19 player ratings How did Chelsea's players perform this season? Ahead of their final match of the 2018/19 campaign, the Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku, we give each member of the Blues' squad a rating out of 10. EPA Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Maurizio Sarri 7/10 A shortened pre-season as his arrival dragged on throughout the summer, Sarri hit the ground running, attempted to change a decade-long style and, eventually, provided invaluable minutes to academy graduates Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek - something the fanbase has craved for years. His stubbornness and lack of variety frustrated many, but eventually he adjusted, pushing City mightily close in the League Cup final and leading the Blues to third and the Europa League final. A satisfactory debut season under difficult circumstances Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Kepa Arrizabalaga 7/10 He arrived with the enormous weight and expectation from his price tag as the world's most expensive goalkeeper. Yet Kepa settled quickly, making very few mistakes and proving quietly productive with his feet. The incident at Wembley to not accept Maurizio Sarri's substitution vs Man City was regretful, yet he bounced back and was pivotal in ensuring the Blues won the shoot-out vs Frankfurt to reach the Europa League final. Still a long way to go to justify the price tag and prove Chelsea have a long-term solution, but he's made a decent start Bongarts/Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Willy Caballero 7/10 Handled the Kepa fiasco maturely and proved reliable when he stepped in, five clean sheets in eight appearances - about as solid as you can find as a No 2 without the realistic ambition to surpass the No 1 Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Rob Green n/a No first team appearances, but seemingly slotted in to his role and proved likable in the dressing room. A send-off in Boston in the friendly vs New England Revolution was deserved Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Antonio Rudiger 8/10 Emerging as one of the top five centre-backs in the Premier League with little fanfare. Excellent at recovering, efficient with the ball and even able to stroll out from the back, a cornerstone for Chelsea moving forward. Cruelly denied REUTERS Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Marcos Alonso 5/10 A season of regression with his place now under serious threat despite signing a new five-year deal. Productive nonetheless with four goals and seven assists, but a liability at times when defending Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Emerson 6/10 Has impressed Sarri enough to nudge Alonso out of the starting line-up at times, but is yet to fully lock down a starting role. Has at least proven to be decent competition and cover EPA Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta 6/10 Has shown signs of decline but still a favourite under Sarri. Starting to show defensive fragility for almost the first time in his Chelsea career and when the side became predictable, his lack of penetration going forward became evident Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Davide Zappacosta 5/10 Has been an option late in games when Chelsea are chasing and can cross well from deep areas, but will surely be moved on this summer with Reece James and/or Ola Aina natural squad options Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Andreas Christensen 5/10 Has been frustrated at his lack of starts behind Luiz and Rudiger. Has filled in well to an extent when called upon though, but lacked consistency Action Images via Reuters Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings David Luiz 7/10 Has been Sarri's mind on the pitch and key to the style transition. Very few defenders better with the ball at their feet and for that reason his extension has proven shrewd. Occasional lack of concentration, but that will not change at this stage of his career. One of the few leaders left at Chelsea and was pivotal in stopping this side fully unravel at times Reuters Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Gary Cahill 5/10 Harshly treated by Sarri, but not a fit for the way he wanted to play, will be fondly remembered after winning everything with the Blues and eventually received the send-off he deserved EPA Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Jorginho 6/10 Started brilliantly to inspire a new style at the Bridge. But has been treated ridiculously by some Chelsea fans, who have bizarrely booed him at times this season. Responded well in the last few months and appears to have now settled, will play a vital role in the outcome in Baku PA Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings N'Golo Kante 7/10 Embraced his new, more adventurous role to the right of Jorginho. Added craft to his game and his energy was critical to Sarriball showing promising signs in year one. Injury is a concern ahead of Baku, but he seems set to recover in time Action Images via Reuters Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Mateo Kovacic 6/10 Has not shone much, but always reliable in possession. Just lacks that cutting edge in the final third and has almost no production in terms of goals and assists despite the freedom of his role. Sarri remains a fan and they will try to sign him permanently Getty Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Ethan Ampadu 6/10 The Blues youngster was part of the first team squad throughout the season and impressed in the Europa League: brave on the ball and demonstrating excellent positioning - hasn't played since suffering a back injury in February Getty Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Ruben Loftus-Cheek 8/10 Flourished in the second half of the season to show real signs he can blossom into one of the game's best box-to-box midfielders, scoring 10 goals in the process. Cruelly injured before the Europa League final and will be out for many months with an Achilles injury AFP/Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Ross Barkley 6/10 Scored the late equaliser vs United and won his England place back, but rarely felt like a 'starter', doing little to justify leaving out Loftus-Cheek and Kovacic for long spells. Will need to step it up next season or he will likely be moved on Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Pedro 7/10 Scored 12 goals and made five assists. His strikes against Tottenham and Frankfurt proved especially important and with Gonzalo Higuain and Olivier Giroud blunting the Blues' attack, he has emerged as probably the best finisher in this squad, supporting the burden on Eden Hazard EPA Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Gonzalo Higuain 5/10 Has not settled at all, looking slow and offering little outside his movement inside the area, he looks set to return to Turin this summer, even if the transfer ban is held Getty Images Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Olivier Giroud 7/10 Unable to convince Sarri he was worth a permanent role to spearhead the side's attack, yet always proving useful when called upon, especially so in the Europa League, where he became the top scorer in the competition with 10 goals alongside Luka Jovic - deserved a longer run in the side in the league PA Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Alvaro Morata 4/10 Suffered a woeful spell of form and loss of confidence and eventually accepted a move to Atletico in January. Ends his Chelsea career with 24 goals in 72 appearances Getty Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Callum Hudson-Odoi 7/10 He had to show great patience before a sustained run in the side came, but he justified the hype and showed himself to be worth of starts ahead of Pedro and Willian at times. Quick feet and a refreshing willingness to go on the outside and cross the ball - which would have helped Higuain and Giroud in the closing stages of the season. Will be forced to show more mental resolve to come back from an Achilles injury next season, with his future yet to be clarified entering the final year of his contract Getty Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Willian 6/10 A frustrating presence in the side during Chelsea's predictable spell when sides began to work out Sarriball and also blocked Hudson-Odoi's opportunities at times. Still provides hard work and neat in possession, but rarely able to provide a cutting edge. Another player with an uncertain future and only one year remaining on his contract REUTERS Chelsea 2018/19 season player ratings Eden Hazard 9/10 Outstanding at times and back to the form to suggest he is the best player in the Premier League, has done enough to earn his move to Real Madrid and will be sorely missed. Without him and his 19 goals and 16 assists, Chelsea would have surely fallen short of top four and been unable to compete with Man City in two of their three meetings REUTERS

“LGBTI people have been arrested, and even people fleeing the country have been harassed and pressured to return.

“Fans, players and backroom staff can help prevent Azerbaijan’s likely attempt to sportswash its image by informing themselves about the human rights situation behind the glitzy facade of Wednesday’s match.

“All too often, governments are using high-profile sporting competitions to distract attention from repressive policies and human rights violations, to instead project an image of openness. This couldn’t be further from the truth with the current administration, and the Arsenal-Chelsea clash is just the latest reminder of this.”

According to Azerbaijani human rights defenders, more than 150 people are in prison in the country on politically motivated charges, while mass arrests are used to silence the media and crack down on non-governmental organisations.

The country, which has been run by president Ilham Aliyev since 2003, is currently ranked 166th on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, the lowest ranking in Europe.

So far, however, most of the criticism of UEFA’s choice of Baku for the final has focused on how difficult and expensive it is for Arsenal and Chelsea fans to get there, as well as the large proportion of tickets that have been allocated to local fans and sponsors.

UEFA has pointed out it has an obligation to grow the game throughout the continent and there was no way of knowing that two London-based sides would reach the final when the decision was made in 2017. It has also said the ticket allocation was based on how many travelling fans it believed Baku’s airport could handle.

For its part, the Azerbaijan Football Association has said it regrets Mkhitaryan’s “unwarranted” decision to stay away and reiterated its commitment to UEFA that all visitors for the game will be welcome.

Mkhitaryan, who captains Armenia, has skipped club games in Azerbaijan before, but it is perhaps worth noting that the Armenian team was welcomed in Baku when it hosted the multi-sport European Games in 2015.