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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2026/2914(RSP))

On the cases of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan

B-10-2026-0438

on behalf of The Left Group · Rapporteur: Marina Mesure

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 9 Oct 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution condemns the crackdown on political opposition, independent media and civil society in Azerbaijan and names Ali Karimli and Anar Mammadli as political prisoners. It demands the immediate and unconditional release of all persons imprisoned on politically motivated grounds, including Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war, and the quashing of such convictions and charges. It calls for full implementation of ECtHR judgments, condemns transnational repression, and asks member states to reject extradition requests based on politically motivated prosecutions. It deplores EU representatives' failure to raise these cases publicly and insists that any deepening of EU-Azerbaijan relations be conditional on releases and an end to the crackdown.

Key points

  1. Parliament strongly condemns the continued systematic repression of political opposition, independent media and civil society in Azerbaijan.
  2. It demands the immediate and unconditional release of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and all persons imprisoned on politically motivated grounds, and the quashing of politically motivated convictions and charges.
  3. It condemns Karimli's punitive detention conditions and demands full access to lawyers, family communication and medical care for all detainees.
  4. It reiterates deep concern over the continued detention of Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, including former high-ranking representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release and respect for their fundamental rights.
  5. It deplores the failure of EU representatives to publicly raise the cases of political prisoners during recent high-level visits and warns that such silence risks undermining the credibility of the EU's human rights policy.
  6. It insists that any further deepening of EU-Azerbaijan relations be conditional on the immediate release of persons detained on politically motivated grounds and an end to the crackdown on independent media, civil society and political opposition.
  7. It calls on Azerbaijan to fully implement ECtHR judgments concerning politically motivated prosecutions, including the Mammadli group of cases.
  8. It condemns Azerbaijan's transnational repression against exiled critics and calls on member states to reject extradition requests based on politically motivated prosecutions.

Who is affected

  • Azerbaijan's authorities, who are called on to release detainees, quash convictions and implement ECtHR judgments.
  • Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, detained since 29 November 2025 and facing a potential life sentence.
  • Anar Mammadli, human rights defender and election monitor, sentenced on 7 September 2026 to 13 years' imprisonment.
  • Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, including former high-ranking representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh.
  • EU member states, asked to reject extradition requests based on politically motivated prosecutions.

Figures and deadlines

  • 29 November 2025: date Ali Karimli has been detained since.
  • 7 September 2026: date Anar Mammadli was sentenced.
  • 13 years' imprisonment: sentence given to Anar Mammadli.
  • 1 July 2026: date Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Baku and met President Ilham Aliyev.
  • September 2026: month EU Special Representative Magdalena Grono visited Nagorno-Karabakh.