What changed

B100234/2024

B100218/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on 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

The European Parliament,

-– having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan,

- having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950, ratified by Azerbaijan in 2002,

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

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

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 human rights in Azerbaijan have worsened, with continued repression of civil society and independent media; whereas, following the conclusion of COP29, Azerbaijani authorities continued their crackdown on government critics; whereas, on 6 December 2024, Azerbaijani authorities detained seven independent journalists on fabricated charges from the exile-based independent media outlet Meydan TV as well as Kamran Mammadli, an animal rights activist;

whereas Gubad Ibadoghlu, economist and 2024 Sakharov prize nominee, remains under house arrest on trumped-up charges, and is not allowed to leave Azerbaijan to receive the urgent and life-saving health care he requires ;

whereas 300 people remain in detention in Azerbaijan on politicallythe motivatedhealth charges;of whereasAnar prominentMammadli, human rights defender and climate advocate, Anar Mammadli, has beendeteriorated in pre-trial detention since 30 April 2024 on bogus charges of conspiracy to bring illegal foreign currency into the country and his health has deteriorated significantly while in custody;;

whereas the European Court of Human Rights ruled for interim measures under Rule 39 stating that economist and political activist Gubad Ibadoglhu’s health condition is critical and requires hospitalisation and a prompt heart surgery; whereas the Azerbaijani government did not implement the decision;

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 Rufat Safarov was arrested on the 3rd of December 2024 on bogus fraud and hooliganism charges, prior to his planned trip to the US to receive an award from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for his human rights work;

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

Stresses its profound concern regarding the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and demands an immediate end of the crackdown on all dissident groups;

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

Urges Azerbaijan’s authorities to immediately andIs unconditionallyconcerned releaseabout humanthe rightscontinued defenders,repression journalists,of environmental,civil politicalsociety and other activistsindependent prosecutedmedia underin fabricatedAzerbaijan, andin orparticular politicallythe motivatedcases chargesof includingDr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat SafarovSafarov, andsix theof sevenMeydan independentTV’s journalists ofand Meydanother TV;medias;

Strongly demands the immediate lifting of the travel ban imposed on Gubad Ibadoghlu and the unconditional dropping of all charges against him; calls on Azerbaijan urgently to ensure an independent medical examination by a doctor of his own choosing, and allow him to receive treatment abroad as he is under risk of diabetic coma and stroke;

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

Condemns the detention conditions of political prisoners, including Kamran Mammadov, who was subjected to beating, and the use of electric shocks;

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;

Calls for EU sanctions under its global human rights sanctions regime to be imposed on Azerbaijani officials who have committed serious human rights violations;

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 ;

Recalls that the 1996 EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is based on respect for democracy and the principles of international law and human rights;

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

Insists on conditioning any future agreements with Azerbaijan on the release of all political prisoners and the improvement of the overall human rights situation in the country;

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

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

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;

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.