What changed

B100231/2024

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

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 #TXTTITLE@TITLE@#

(2024/2994(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-– having regard to itsthe previousEuropean resolutionsConvention on Azerbaijan;Human Rights, ratified by Azerbaijan,

-– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure;Procedure,

A. whereas Azerbaijani authorities have been continuously reducing space for civil society, arbitrarily closing down non-governmental organisations and arresting or forcing into exile civil society representatives;

A. whereas since 2023, the Azerbaijani authorities have been engaged in a systemic crackdown on civil society, political opposition, human rights defenders, the LGBTI+ community and independent media, which intensified around COP29;

B. whereas since the announcement that Azerbaijan would host UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), control of critical voices has increased, resulting in the arbitrary detention and prosecution of civil society activists and journalists;

B. whereas there are over 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan as well as 23 Armenian prisoners of war, including leaders of the former self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic;

C. whereas charges have been brought against numerous independent journalists who remain in prison or in pre-trial detention, while independent media are often shut down on politically motivated charges;

C. whereas political prisoner and 2024 Sakharov Prize finalist Gubad Ibadoghlu remains under house arrest; whereas the European Court of Human Rights ruled that his health condition is critical, requiring hospitalisation and urgent heart surgery;

D. whereas Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, a renowned political economist and anti-corruption activist was arbitrarily detained and subjected to inhumane treatment; whereas in April 2024 Dr Ibadoghlu was moved to house arrest, while his health condition still gives serious concerns;

D. whereas civil society leader Anar Mammadli has been in pre-trial detention since April 2024 on bogus charges, with his health deteriorating due to denied healthcare;

E. whereas Dr Ibadoghlu was shortlisted for the 2024 Sakharov Prize;

E. whereas in early December 2024, the Azerbaijani authorities arrested MeydanTV journalists Aynur Ganbarova, Aytaj Ahmadova, Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli and Aysel Umudova, and journalists Ramin Jabrayilzade and Ahmad Mukhtar; whereas they also arrested Baku Journalism School deputy director Ulvi Tahirov, political leader Azer Gasimli and human rights defender Rufat Safarov; whereas all face unfounded, politically motivated charges;

1. Deplores that, despite strong pressure from the EU and the international community, the Azerbaijani authorities have not addressed the deteriorating human rights situation in the country ahead of COP29 and have not shown commitment to fundamental rights and rule of law;

F. whereas environmental activist Kamran Mammadli was attacked by security guards at COP29 and is banned from travelling;

2. Reiterates its condemnation for the continuous reported violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, the reprisals against human rights defenders and journalists, and the abuse of the criminal justice system for political purposes;

G. whereas prisoners’ human rights are routinely violated through detention in inhumane conditions, torture and specific harassment of female political prisoners, including Nargiz Absalamova;

3. Is extremely concerned for the arrest of independent journalist Jabrailzade and the employees of Meydan TV Gambarova, Javadli, Agayeva, Ahmadova and Umudova, who are placed in pre-trial detention, accused of foreign currency smuggling,

1. Strongly condemns the Azerbaijani regime’s reported ongoing violations of human rights, including freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and its politically motivated abuse of the criminal justice system;

4. Reiterates its grave concern over the detention of anti-corruption activist and academic Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, who was held in pre-trial detention for almost one year despite his deteriorating health, moved to house arrest and continues to be deprived of liberty, and who is not allowed to leave Azerbaijan to receive the medical care he requires;

2. Urges the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately end the crackdown on all dissident groups and unconditionally release and drop all charges against human rights defenders, journalists and political and other activists prosecuted under fabricated, politically motivated charges;

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6. Expresses its concern over the case of Anar Mammadli, a prominent human rights defender and climate advocate, who was arrested in April 2024 and placed in pre-trial detention, and who faces charges of conspiracy in retaliation for his criticism of the government;

4. Calls on Azerbaijan to lift undue restrictions on independent media by aligning its laws on the registration and funding of non-governmental groups and media with Venice Commission recommendations; demands that the authorities end the repression of MeydanTV, ToplumTV, Abaz Media and Kanal13;

7. Insists that any partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan – including on energy – must have strong conditions attached on the respect of international law and fundamental rights; calls on the Commission to urgently review the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy;

5. Calls for EU sanctions under its global human rights sanctions regime to be imposed on Azerbaijani officials responsible for serious human rights violations, including Fuad Alasgarov, Vilayat Eyvazov and Ali Naghiyev;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HRVP, the President, Government and Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Council of Europe.

6. Insists that any EU-Azerbaijan partnership agreement – including on energy – must be strongly conditional on respect for fundamental rights and the release of all political prisoners; calls on the Commission to suspend the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy;

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