18/12/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 18 December, the European Parliament called on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, specifically naming Ali Karimli as well as researchers and academics Bahruz Samadov, Igbal Abilov, and Gubad Ibadoghlu. In their joint resolution (477 votes in favour, 7 against, and 69 abstentions), MEPs call on the country to end repression and to respect international human rights obligations and standards, including those related to freedom of expression and academic freedom. The European Parliament hopes that appropriate measures will be taken against those responsible for the repression under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. It also believes that any progress on a future partnership agreement ought to be conditional on concrete progress being made on human rights, the rule of law, and respect for EU values and principles. See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/k2k (CG)