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

European Parliament resolution on the cases of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan

(2026/2914(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan, including of 19 December 2024 and 18 December 2025,

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

A. whereas Ali Karimli, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party, has been in pretrial detention since 29 November 2025, with it extended twice until 13 November 2026, on charges of alleged violent seizure of power, which he denies, carrying a potential life sentence;

B. whereas Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reported a serious deterioration in his detention conditions, including restrictions on communication, food parcels and drinking water, lack of ventilation, sleep deprivation, severe dehydration and fainting; whereas Amnesty International has warned that this may amount to torture or ill-treatment;

C. whereas Anar Mammadli was sentenced on 7 September 2026 to 13 years in prison on multiple criminal charges; whereas the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) previously found his detention politically motivated; whereas his co-defendant, journalist Anar Abdullayev, was sentenced to 12 years;

D. whereas these cases form part of a broader pattern of repression against opposition figures, journalists, human rights defenders, activists and academics, with over 300 political prisoners, including Armenian prisoners;

1. Strongly condemns the continued politically motivated detention and imprisonment of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli and Anar Abdullayev; calls for their immediate and unconditional release; demands adequate water, food, ventilation, medical care, lawyers and family contact; calls for independent investigations into allegations of ill-treatment; urges respect for due process and fair-trial guarantees; calls for full implementation of ECtHR judgments in the Mammadli group of cases;

2. Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to end reprisals against peaceful critics, journalists, human rights activists, opposition leaders and academics, release all political prisoners and drop criminal charges against them; urges an end to the misuse of criminal and national security laws to silence non-governmental organisations and media, and urges respect for judicial independence; welcomes Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu’s arrival in Germany for urgent medical treatment; calls for all criminal charges against him to be lifted; expresses concern about the detention of EU citizens, including French national Anass Derraz;

3. Calls on the VP/HR and Member States to ensure diplomatic engagement respects democratic values and to prepare targeted measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime; calls on the EU Delegation in Baku and Member State embassies to monitor trials;

4. Reiterates that any future EU-Azerbaijan partnership agreement should be conditional on tangible improvements in human rights and the rule of law, including the release of political prisoners;

5. Calls on the Commission to increase support for Azerbaijani civil society and independent media, including those in exile;

6. Regrets the Milli Majlis’s decision to suspend cooperation with Parliament and calls for its resumption;

7. Condemns transnational repression against Azerbaijani critics abroad; calls on Member States to subject extradition requests concerning government critics to rigorous scrutiny;

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