On Continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov and Meydan TV

B100234/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov and Meydan TV

(2024/2994(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan,

- having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950, ratified by Azerbaijan in 2002,

- having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas human rights in Azerbaijan have worsened, with continued repression of civil society and independent media; whereas, following the conclusion of COP29, Azerbaijani authorities continued their crackdown on government critics; whereas, on 6 December 2024, Azerbaijani authorities detained seven independent journalists on fabricated charges from the exile-based independent media outlet Meydan TV as well as Kamran Mammadli, an animal rights activist;

whereas 300 people remain in detention in Azerbaijan on politically motivated charges; whereas prominent human rights defender and climate advocate, Anar Mammadli, has been in pre-trial detention since 30 April 2024 on bogus charges of conspiracy to bring illegal foreign currency into the country and his health has deteriorated significantly while in custody;

whereas the European Court of Human Rights ruled for interim measures under Rule 39 stating that economist and political activist Gubad Ibadoglhu’s health condition is critical and requires hospitalisation and a prompt heart surgery; whereas the Azerbaijani government did not implement the decision;

whereas Rufat Safarov was arrested on the 3rd of December 2024 on bogus fraud and hooliganism charges, prior to his planned trip to the US to receive an award from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for his human rights work;

Stresses its profound concern regarding the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and demands an immediate end of the crackdown on all dissident groups;

Urges Azerbaijan’s authorities to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defenders, journalists, environmental, political and other activists prosecuted under fabricated and or politically motivated charges including Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov and the seven independent journalists of Meydan TV;

Strongly demands the immediate lifting of the travel ban imposed on Gubad Ibadoghlu and the unconditional dropping of all charges against him; calls on Azerbaijan urgently to ensure an independent medical examination by a doctor of his own choosing, and allow him to receive treatment abroad as he is under risk of diabetic coma and stroke;

Condemns the detention conditions of political prisoners, including Kamran Mammadov, who was subjected to beating, and the use of electric shocks;

Calls for EU sanctions under its global human rights sanctions regime to be imposed on Azerbaijani officials who have committed serious human rights violations;

Recalls that the 1996 EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is based on respect for democracy and the principles of international law and human rights;

Insists on conditioning any future agreements with Azerbaijan on the release of all political prisoners and the improvement of the overall human rights situation in the country;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of Member States, and the President, Government and Parliament of Azerbaijan.