On the cases of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan
B-10-2026-0451
on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: Dan Barna, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Svenja Hahn, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, MarieAgnes StrackZimmermann, JanChristoph Oetjen, Malik Azmani, Karin Karlsbro, Lucia Yar, Ľubica Karvašová, Engin Eroglu, Lukas Sieper, Petras Auštrevičius, Hilde Vautmans
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Parliament's resolution on the cases of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan condemns their detention and calls for their release.¶¶ It demands that the Azerbaijani authorities provide adequate drinking water, food, ventilation, medical care, confidential lawyer access and family contact to Karimli and all detainees, and investigate ill-treatment allegations. It calls for an end to reprisals against peaceful critics, journalists, human rights activists, opposition leaders and academics, including those in exile, and for the release of all political prisoners.¶ It asks the High Representative and member states to prepare evidence-based proposals for targeted measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against officials responsible for serious human rights violations.¶ It says any future EU-Azerbaijan partnership agreement should be conditional on verifiable human rights and rule of law improvements, including the release of political prisoners.¶
Key points
- Condemns the continued detention of Ali Karimli and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.¶
- Demands that the Azerbaijani authorities ensure adequate drinking water, food, ventilation, medical care, confidential access to lawyers and regular family contact for Karimli and all detainees.
- Calls for independent investigations into allegations of ill-treatment.
- Calls for the immediate release of Anar Mammadli and urges the Azerbaijani authorities to provide him with adequate medical care and respect due process and fair-trial guarantees.¶
- Calls for the full implementation of ECHR judgements in the Mammadli group of cases.
- Calls upon the Azerbaijani authorities to end broader reprisals against peaceful critics, journalists, human rights activists, opposition leaders and academics, including those in exile, and to release all political prisoners.¶
- Welcomes the arrival of Dr Gubad Ibadoglu to Germany for urgent medical treatment and calls for the immediate lifting of all criminal charges against him.¶
- Calls on the High Representative and the member states to ensure diplomatic engagement remains consistent with the EU's core values and to prepare evidence-based proposals for targeted measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against officials responsible for serious human rights violations.¶
- Reiterates that any future EU-Azerbaijan partnership agreement should be conditional on verifiable improvements in human rights and the rule of law, including the release of political prisoners.¶
Who is affected
- Ali Karimli, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, held in pre-trial detention since 29 November 2025.¶
- Anar Mammadli, sentenced on 7 September 2026 to 13 years in prison.¶
- Other political prisoners in Azerbaijan, numbering 400.¶
- Azerbaijani officials responsible for serious human rights violations, targeted by proposed sanctions.¶
- The High Representative and EU member states, asked to act on diplomatic engagement and sanctions.
Figures and deadlines
- 29 November 2025: date Ali Karimli has been held in pre-trial detention since.¶
- 10 June: date Karimli's detention was extended for further five months.
- 6 August 2026: date Karimli fainted during a court hearing.¶
- 7 September 2026: date Anar Mammadli was sentenced to 13 years in prison.¶
- 13 years: prison sentence given to Anar Mammadli.
- 400: number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.¶