EU rapporteur says Brussels is making a serious mistake over Azerbaijan and Armenian prisoners

YEREVAN— European Parliament rapporteur for Armenia Miriam Lexmann has sharply criticized the European Union’s approach toward Azerbaijan, warning that economic interests are overshadowing human rights concerns and weakening pressure on Baku to release Armenian prisoners.

In an interview with Factor TV on October 20, Lexmann said the EU had failed to take a sufficiently firm position against President Ilham Aliyev’s government despite continuing human rights violations and the detention of Armenians from Artsakh.

She stressed that European institutions should place human rights at the centre of their relations with Azerbaijan rather than pursue closer economic cooperation without meaningful accountability.

Lexmann also criticized Turkey’s response to Armenia’s normalization efforts, saying Yerevan had made considerable attempts to improve relations without receiving comparable commitments from Ankara. She noted that Azerbaijan continues to obstruct progress between Armenia and Turkey.

Turning to Armenia’s European aspirations, Lexmann cautioned against rushing toward symbolic political steps amid geopolitical tensions and Russian pressure.

Instead, she called for practical improvements in Armenia-EU relations, including visa liberalization, stronger economic cooperation and alignment with European standards.

Her remarks raise renewed questions about the consistency of European foreign policy, particularly as Brussels seeks closer relations with Armenia while maintaining economic ties with Azerbaijan.