What changed

B100218/2024

B100226/2024

Motion for a European Parliament 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

(2024/2994(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–- having regard to itsthe previousRule resolutions144 onof Azerbaijan,its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas since 2023 Azerbaijani authorities have engaged in a systemic crackdown against civil society, political opposition, human rights defenders and independent media, which has intensified around the COP29;

whereas COP29 hosted in Baku was a perfect opportunity for the government to greenwash its image in a new playing field, environment and climate, while violation of human rights persisted ;

whereas civil society organisations list over 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, as well as 23 Armenian POWs including leaders of former self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic;

whereas Gubad Ibadoghlu,political economistprisoner and 2024finalist Sakharovof prizethe nominee,2024 remainsSakharov underPrize houseGubad arrestIbadoghlu onwas trumped-uprefused charges,to andtravel isto notreceive allowedthe toaward; leavewhereas Azerbaijanhis tolife receiveis thein urgentdanger anddue life-savingto healthrefusal careof headequate requiresmedical ;care;

whereas thecivil healthsociety ofleader Anar Mammadli,Mammadli humanhas rightsbeen defenderin pre-trial detention since April 2024 on bogus charges and climatehis advocate,health has deteriorated insignificantly detentiondue ;to refusal of healthcare;

whereas press freedom in Azerbaijan has considerably shrunk since President Heydar Aliyev arrived in power in 2003, following his father ; whereas he has been re-elected President in 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2024, with elections being marred each time by numerous irregularities ;

whereas on 15 November environmental activist Kamran Mammadli was violently attacked by security guards for raising a poster at the COP29 and has been placed under the travel ban;

whereas the authorities target in particular remaining independent media and their journalists, such as Abzas Media, Kanal 13, Toplum TV and Meydan TV ;

whereas on 3 December human rights defender Rufat Safarov was arrested on bogus charges;

Strongly condemns the new wave of arrests and repression by Azeri government, following the COP29 in Baku ;

whereas on 6 December five Meydan TV journalists, journalist Ramin Jabrayilzade, and Ulvi Tahirov of the Baku Journalism School were arrested on smuggling charges, and photojournalist Ahmad Mukhtar was sentenced for hooliganism;

Is concerned about the continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan, in particular the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov, six of Meydan TV’s journalists and other medias;

whereas on 8 December political leader Azer Gasimli was detained on extortion charges and faces a prison sentence of 5-10 years;

Calls for the immediate release all prisoners detained under politically-motivated charges;

whereas the West should not give-in to Aliyev regime when it bargains the freedom of political prisoners in exchange of such concessions as participation in Azerbaijan organized events;

Invites the authorities to abide by their international commitment and ensure correct treatment of prisoners, protected from torture and other ill-treatment, with medication, food and water;

Strongly condemns the repression by Azerbaijani regime against activists, human rights defenders, LGBTIQ+ community, independent media and political opposition; urges the Azerbaijani authorities to release all persons arbitrarily detained or imprisoned for their political views, drop all politically motivated charges and cease all forms of repression against them, including political prisoners Gubad Ibadoghlu, Tofig Yagublu, Akif Gurbanov, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, human rights defenders and journalists Rufat Safarov, Aynur Ganbarova, Aytaj Ahmadova, Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli, Aysel Umudova, Ramin Jabrayilzade, Ulvi Tahirov, Ahmad Mukhtar, Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, Hafiz Babali, Elnara Gasimova, Aziz Orujov, Rufat Muradli, Avaz Zeynalli, Elnur Shukurov, Alasgar Mammadli, Ilhamiz Guliyev, Farid Ismayilov, civil society activists Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Azer Gasimli, Farid Mehralizade, Igbal Abilov, Bahruz Samadov, Emin Ibrahimov, Famil Khalilov and Afiaddin Mammadov;

Calls on Azerbaijani authorities to repeal and reform the restrictive media and NGO laws, including the Law on grant, which resemble foreign agent law elsewhere in the world ; underlines this set of laws have a concrete and negative impact on civil society organisations that protect the human rights of persons in vulnerability, including LGBTI individuals ;

Demands to end repressions of MeydanTV, ToplumTV, Abaz Media and Kanal13, and to uphold freedom of opinion and expression, and fundamental rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Invites Member States to facilitate the issuance of emergency visas and temporary relocation to support civil society and human rights defenders;

Reiterates its call for EU sanctions to be imposed under EU Magnitsky Act on Azerbaijani officials responsible for serious human rights violations and for energy agreements with Azerbaijan to be suspended;

Calls on the Commission to suspend the strategic partnership with Azerbaijan in the field of energy;

Insists that the human rights conditions in the current and any future EU-Azerbaijan agreements be fully implemented, including the release of political prisoners;

Insists on making any partnership agreement conditional to effective enforcement by Azerbaijan of human rights commitments with clear benchmarks, efforts to ensure peace and security in the region and respect of internationally recognized borders of its neighboring countries ; recalls to this end the need to release all Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, the VP/HR, Member States and the President, Government and Parliament of Azerbaijan.

Regrets that Azerbaijan has not ratified several important International Labour Organisation’s intruments on forced labour, occupational safety or social security ;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Member States and the President, Government and Parliament of Azerbaijan.