What changed

B100181/2025

B100180/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan

The European Parliament,

-– having regard to itsRule previous150 resolutions(5) onof Armeniaits andRules Azerbaijan,of Procedure,

- having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Azerbaijan is holding at least 23 Armenian hostages, including former military-political leaders of the now-defunct Nagorno-Karabakh republic, servicemen captured as prisoners of war during both the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and Azerbaijan’s military attack against Nagorno-Karabakh;

Whereas shamB. militarywhereas trials of 23the Armenian hostages,prisoners includingare high-rankingtaking politicalplace representativesin fromBaku; thewhereas formerRuben self-proclaimedVardanyan, Nagorno-Karabakhthe republicformer andState prisonersMinister of war,Karabakh, is currentlybeing ongoingtried in Baku; whereas the prisonersa areseparate facingtrial seriousand chargesfaces includinga terrorismlifetime thatprison couldsentence resulton indifferent lifecharges, imprisonmentincluding sentences;terrorism;

Whereas these politically motivated trials take place in the aftermath of the 2023 blockade and ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan and can be considered as yet another Azerbaijani display of “victory” that is purposefully harmful to ongoing peace negotiations with Armenia;

C. whereas the bilateral relationship between the EU and Azerbaijan is governed by the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; whereas a better access to justice is mentioned as one of the priority areas of EU support in the EU-Azerbaijan partnership;

Whereas the UN Human Rights Council reports that the accused are routinely administered psychotropic substances and tortured to alter their declarations; whereas the prisoners have been denied their basic legal rights throughout the process, including access to an attorney of their choice, an interpreter, the possibility to appeal and to receive visits from their family or be granted suspensions due to health issues; whereas the sham trials are not accessible to international observers nor independent media;

D. whereas Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed on 15 out of 17 articles of a draft peace treaty but that both countries remain divided over the deployment of third-country forces along the border and withdrawal of lawsuits in international courts;

Whereas Ruben Vardanyan, former Nagorno-Karabakh leader, has started a hunger strike on 19 February 2025 to protest his trial conditions and his health is rapidly deteriorating; whereas its former president Arayik Harutyunyan’s health is also visibly degrading;

1. Is concerned about the plight of the Armenian hostages; encourages Azerbaijan to give the prisoners access to medical care; encourages Azerbaijan to release the Armenians that are still in detention, because of humanitarian reasons and as a step towards improving the relationship with Armenia;

Calls on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian political prisoners and other individuals unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan and drop unsubstantiated charges against them;

2. Believes that the release and repatriation of Armenian detainees will give a boost to the overall peace process and will lead to increased confidence between both countries; welcomes, in this regard, the return of over more than 150 confirmed prisoners; believes that quiet diplomacy, rather than harsh rhetoric, will lead to further positive steps in this direction;

Condemns in the strongest possible terms the sham trials and systematic violations of fundamental rights of Armenian hostages and calls on Azerbaijan to fully respect the right to a fair trial in compliance with international standards; calls to ensure their immediate access to independent doctors and lawyers; expects an independent investigation into the allegations of ill-treatment of Armenian hostages while in prison;

3. Encourages Azerbaijan and Armenia to continue their peace talks, to remain committed to a lasting and peaceful settlement, through dialogue, and to refrain from aggressive statements;

Is deeply concerned with Azerbaijan’s order to close the Baku office of the International Committee of the Red Cross, a regular visitor of the Armenian hostages, and calls on the authorities to review their position;

4. Emphasises the importance of creating the conditions for a safe and dignified return of refugees and displaced persons to Karabakh, and to protect the cultural and Christian heritage of the region;

Calls on the EU and Member States embassies to Azerbaijan to observe the trials and regularly visit all Armenian hostages; calls on the HR/VP, should she travel to Baku, to visit the Armenians prisoners;

5. Notes that according to press reports, millions of Euro funding from the Council of Europe and the EU have failed to improve the judicial system and the prison conditions in Azerbaijan;

Reiterates its call for EU sanctions under the EU Magnitsky Act on all Azerbaijani leaders and officials responsible for the unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages; encourages Member States to consider an ICC referral;

6. 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 European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President, government and parliament of Armenia, the President, government and parliament of Azerbaijan, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

Reiterates its call to suspend the 2022 EU-Azerbaijan memorandum of understanding on the strategic partnership in the field of energy;

Calls for a suspension of the visa facilitation agreement with Azerbaijan and visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic passports, until all Armenian hostages are released and the overall human rights situation in the country improves;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, HR/VP, Member States and the Azerbaijani authorities.