On Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz GuliyevTXTTITLE@TITLE@

B90227/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz GuliyevTXTTITLE@TITLE@

(2024/2698(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

Whereas scholar economist, politician and activist Gubad Ibadoghlu was detained in July 2023 in retaliation for his criticism of the government, and in February 2024, Baku Court extended his pre-trial detention by three more months; whereas Ibadoghlu was charged with the production of counterfeit money by an organized group, and with the preparation, storage and distribution of religious extremist materials; whereas Ibadoghlu was allegedly tortured in detention; whereas in September 2023, the ECHR ordered Azerbaijan to ensure the protection of Ibadoglhu’s health; whereas, however, his health continues to deteriorate, he is still being denied access to vital medication, and the conditions of his detention may amount to inhuman and degrading treatment;

whereas human rights activist Ilhamiz Guliyev was arrested in December 2023, after speaking to a local media about how police allegedly falsified drug charges against government critics to silence them; whereas he has been arrested for 4 months accused of large-scale drug trafficking, and was allegedly tortured in detention;

whereas these cases are embedded in a broader repression of civil society and dissent in Azerbaijan; whereas human rights activists, political prisoners and journalists continue to face harsh repercussions, including arbitrary arrest and unfair trials;

whereas the 2024 Freedom in the World index ranks Azerbaijan as one of the least free countries in the world with a Global Freedom Score of 7/100, below Russia and Belarus;

Strongly condemns the detentions of those imprisoned for exercising their human rights, including Gubad Ibadoghlu and of Ilhamiz Guliyev; calls for their immediate release;

Pending his release, calls on Azerbaijani authorities to provide Ibadoghlu with necessary medical treatment and care, including independent medical examinations, and to ensure his protection from torture and other ill-treatment;

Calls on Azerbaijan to end the retaliation against the opposition, and to protect the human rights of its citizens, in consistence with its national and international human rights obligations; among others, calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to respect the human right to a fair trial, and to conduct prompt and independent investigations into the allegations of ill-treatment and torture in detention; calls for those responsible to be held accountable;

Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure, in law and in practice, a free and safe environment for the peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association on its territory, including for civil society organisations, human rights activists and journalists;

Strongly regrets the fact that the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, congratulated Ilham Aliyev on his re-election as the president of Azerbaijan;

Reiterates its call on the Commission to immediately suspend the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy between the EU and Azerbaijan;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Government of Azerbaijan.