On the cases of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan
B-10-2026-0460
on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Adam Bielan, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Alexandr Vondra, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Geadis Geadi, Bogdan Rzońca, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Marlena Maląg, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Nikola Bartůšek, Ivaylo Valchev, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Marion Maréchal
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Parliament's resolution calls on Azerbaijan to review the proceedings against Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and Anar Abdullayev and release them without delay.¶ It asks Azerbaijan to stop politically motivated prosecutions and the misuse of criminal law against opposition figures, journalists, media, academics, election monitors and civil society activists.¶ It calls for a review of structural practices that may lead to repeated violations and for protection from ill-treatment and access to lawyers, family, medical care and other safeguards for all detainees.¶¶ It asks the EU Delegation in Baku to monitor these cases and invites the EU to further support human rights and democratic governance in Azerbaijan.¶
Key points
- Azerbaijan faces challenges in establishing fundamental freedoms and protecting fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, democratic representation and civic space.¶
- Azerbaijan has been criticised for its treatment of political activists, journalists and opposition politicians, which risks compromising its alignment to democratic norms and international human rights standards.¶
- Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, has been held in State Security Service detention since November 29, 2025 on charges carrying a potential life sentence.¶
- On September 7, 2026 the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Anar Mammadli to 13 years and Anar Abdullayev to 12 years after proceedings with serious due-process violations.¶
- The authorities have sought to silence dissent through politically motivated accusations, prolonged pretrial detention and considerable prison sentences against critics.¶
- Parliament calls on Azerbaijan to urgently review the proceedings against Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and Anar Abdullayev and release them without delay.¶
- Parliament calls on Azerbaijan to refrain from political persecution and politically motivated prosecutions and the misuse of criminal law against opposition figures, journalists, media, academics, election monitors and civil society activists.¶
- Parliament calls on Azerbaijan to comprehensively review and address structural practices that may lead to repeated violations.¶
- Parliament calls on Azerbaijan to ensure protection from ill-treatment for all detainees and access to lawyers, family communication, medical care and other safeguards.¶
- Parliament calls on the EU Delegation in Baku to monitor these cases and invites the EU to further support human rights and democratic governance in Azerbaijan.¶
Who is affected
- Azerbaijan: called on to review proceedings, release detainees, stop political prosecutions and ensure detainee safeguards.¶¶¶
- Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and Anar Abdullayev: their cases are to be reviewed and they are to be released without delay.
- Opposition figures, journalists, media, academics, election monitors and civil society activists in Azerbaijan: to be protected from politically motivated prosecution and misuse of criminal law.¶
- All detainees in Azerbaijan: to be protected from ill-treatment and given access to lawyers, family, medical care and other safeguards.¶
- EU Delegation in Baku: asked to monitor the cases; the EU is invited to support human rights and democratic governance in Azerbaijan.¶