European Parliament condemns human rights breaches in Azerbaijan, calls for release of Armenian prisoners

In its plenary session on December 19, the European Parliament adopted the resolution on “The Continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov and Meydan TV” with 434 votes in favor, 30 against, and 89 abstentions. The vote was preceded by a parliamentary debate on the subject on 18 December.

Members of the European Parliament strongly condemn the repression of press freedom and the crackdown on dissent by the Aliyev regime and call on the EU executive to enact targeted sanctions against Azerbaijani officials violating human rights and suspending the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy, further insisting that Azerbaijan must “unconditionally release and drop all charges against human rights defenders, journalists, political and other activists prosecuted under fabricated and politically motivated charges.”

The European Parliament strongly condemns the ongoing repression of civil society, independent media, and political opposition in Azerbaijan. The resolution highlights the escalating crackdown since 2023, particularly intensified around the COP29 summit, and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners. The resolution further highlights the routine violation of prisoners’ human rights, including inhumane detention conditions, torture, and targeted harassment of female political prisoners.

Crucially, the resolution mentions the 23 Armenian POWs “including leaders of former Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and calls for their immediate release along with all political prisoners in the country.

During the parliamentary debate on Wednesday, several MEPs raised the issue of the Armenian hostages as well as the policies of aggression and violations of human rights directed at the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, with MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen calling for a “change in [the] approach” of the European Parliament and increased sanctions against Azerbaijan particularly referencing the “max expulsion of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh”.

MEP Marina Mesure stated that “Human rights are systematically violated, Azerbaijan is one of the worst countries when it comes to press freedom, HRW has also documented torture and degrading treatment against prisoners who were detained after the operations in Nagorno-Karabakh” and decried a “Policy of repression against the Armenian neighbors.”

Commenting on the resolution, the president of the EAFJD, Kaspar Karampetian, noted: “This resolution highlights the necessity for the EU Executive to enact comprehensive and effective measures to dissuade the Aliyev regime from its policies of repression and injustice”

He further stated “The increasing crackdown on opposition figures and journalists and the inhumane conditions under which the political prisoners, including the former leaders of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic and other falsely imprisoned Armenians are detained, represents a violation of the fundamental principles and values of the European Union. The EAFJD is committed to ensure that these values, evident in the will of the EP with this resolution, are defended and we will continue to highlight the international principles of press freedom, justice and human rights in our actions.”