STRASBOURG — The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian detainees, including prisoners of war and individuals described as political prisoners, and to respect their fundamental rights.
The resolution reiterates the Parliament’s deep concern over the continued detention of Armenians in Azerbaijan, including former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
It also condemns what lawmakers describe as increasing repression by Azerbaijani authorities against political opposition figures, independent media outlets, and civil society organizations through politically motivated prosecutions and increasingly severe prison sentences.
The resolution specifically calls for the release of Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, who has been detained since last November, and human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison, along with other political prisoners.
The European Parliament also criticized the European Union’s handling of human rights concerns during recent high-level visits to Azerbaijan.
The resolution refers to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit in July and EU Special Representative Magdalena Grono’s visit in September.
Lawmakers expressed regret that EU representatives did not publicly raise the issue of political prisoners or demand their release during those visits.
The resolution warns that such silence risks undermining the credibility of the European Union’s human rights policy.
It further states that any deepening of EU-Azerbaijan relations should be conditional upon the immediate release of politically detained individuals and an end to repression targeting independent media, civil society, and political opposition groups.
The European Parliament’s resolution is nonbinding.
