What changed

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

B100183/2025

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

(2025/2596(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–- having regard to its previous resolutions on Armenia and Azerbaijan,

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

A. whereas 23 Armenian hostages are being detained in Azerbaijan, including former de facto Nagorno-Karabakh officials and prisoners of war from the 2020 war and the ethnic cleansing that followed; whereas they are undergoing sham trials and facing serious charges that could result in illegal life imprisonment sentences;

A. whereas despite numerous international agreements and calls for reform, including persistent pressure from the European Parliament, Azerbaijan has made minimal to no meaningful progress in improving its human rights record, thereby perpetuating a cycle of authoritarian governance and systematic oppression;

B. whereas these hostages are being subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment, including through banned psychoactive methods; whereas their rights are not respected, including access to independent attorneys and interpreters and the possibility to appeal, receive family visits and be granted suspensions on health grounds; whereas this constitutes a systematic violation by Azerbaijan of international obligations regarding the treatment of prisoners;

B. whereas Azerbaijan recently released 29 Armenian prisoners of war, a step acknowledged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, but which does not fully address the ongoing humanitarian concerns and systematic human rights violations; whereas this release occurs against a backdrop of continued staged trials, documented torture, and persistent violations of international humanitarian law;

C. whereas Ruben Vardanyan is on hunger strike and his health rapidly deteriorating; whereas the health of the other hostages is also visibly deteriorating;

C. whereas the fate of the Armenian leadership of Karabakh, including former presidents along with other high-ranking officials remains deeply concerning following their arrest by Azerbaijani forces in September 2023 after the complete takeover of the enclave, and whereas these leaders, who were detained while attempting to leave with other Armenians, now face politically motivated charges including terrorism, creating illegal armed groups, and illegal border crossing; whereas their trials in Baku appear to be a continuation of Azerbaijan's systematic persecution of Armenian political figures;

1. Condemns the unjust detention of the Armenian hostages; demands their immediate and unconditional release;

1. Calls for the European External Action Service and European Commission to commence comprehensive diplomatic, investigative, and pressure-based actions, including demanding immediate access for international human rights observers to the trials of Armenian prisoners and Karabakh leaders in Azerbaijan, establishing a monitoring mission to track legal proceedings and human rights conditions, conditionally linking future EU-Azerbaijan cooperation and financial assistance to demonstrable human rights improvements, and to advance a strategic approach to pressure Azerbaijan's compliance with international humanitarian law, by offering legal and technical support to ensure fair trials and due process;

2. Strongly denounces the ongoing sham trials and systematic violations of the fundamental rights of Armenian hostages, and calls on Azerbaijan to fully respect their right to a fair trial and to have access to medical doctors in compliance with international standards; expects an independent investigation into their ill-treatment;

2. Reiterates its condemnation of the Azerbaijani military incursions into the internationally recognised territory of Armenia over recent years; expresses its sympathy with the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians who had to flee their ancestral lands and calls on the authorities in Baku to guarantee safe return of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians and guarantee their rights to cultivate their culture and traditions; welcomes all efforts by the Government of Armenia to provide shelter and aid to the displaced Armenians;

3. Expresses deep concern at the order by the authorities in Baku to close the offices of the ICRC and UN agencies, hindering both support for the Armenian prisoners and humanitarian oversight, and calls on the authorities to review their position;

3. Strongly condemns Russia’s increasing hybrid attempts to destabilize the political situation inside Armenia and in the region; is concerned that the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) is regularly targeted by Russian disinformation attempts and campaigns;

4. Calls for the EU and Member States’ embassies in Azerbaijan to observe the trials and regularly visit all Armenian hostages; calls on the VP/HR and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to visit them;

4. Reiterates the EU’s commitment to peace, stability and prosperity of the Caucasus region; underlines its unequivocal support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan;

5. Calls for sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against all Azerbaijani leaders and officials committing human rights violations, in particular prosecutors and judges Jamal Ramazanov, Anar Rzayev and Zeynal Agayev;

5. 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 President, Government and Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President, Government and Parliament of the Republic of Armenia, the UN and the Council of Europe.

6. Calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate cases of the forced displacement, persecution and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh; calls for the full implementation of all orders issued by the International Court of Justice, including Azerbaijan’s obligation to protect from violence and bodily harm all persons captured in relation to the 2020 war;

7. Reiterates its strong call to suspend the 2022 EU-Azerbaijan memorandum of understanding on a strategic partnership in the field of energy; insists that any future partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan be conditional on the release of all political prisoners, the improvement of the human rights situation in the country and on Azerbaijan not unduly delaying the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia and its respecting the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, including the right to return;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States and the Presidents, Governments and parliaments of Armenia and Azerbaijan.