On Thursday 25 April, the European Parliament called on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including Ilhamiz Guliyev, a human rights defender arrested in December.
In the joint resolution they adopted (474 votes in favour, 4 against and 51 abstentions), MEPs called on the authorities to lift the travel ban and drop all charges against opposition politician Gubad Ibadoghlu, and to ensure that he receives independent medical care while under house arrest.
The European Parliament insists that any future partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan must be conditional on the release of all political prisoners and the improvement of the general human rights situation in the country, and calls on the European Commission to consider suspending the strategic partnership on energy. It also reiterates its call for officials who have committed serious human rights violations to be subject to EU sanctions.
The European Parliament also considers that current human rights violations in the country are incompatible with its preparations to host COP29.
Read the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/bzb (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)