European Parliament condemns human rights violations in Azerbaijan

On 18 December, the European Parliament adopted resolutions on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) denounce both the Azerbaijani authorities’ misuse of national security provisions as tools for judicial harassment, and the criminalisation of freedom of expression, peace advocacy and public criticism in the country.

They called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Bahruz Samadov, a PhD student at Charles University, and Igbal Abilov, a Talysh ethnic minority researcher and editor-in-chief of Talysh National Academy News. 

MEPs also denounce the unjust and arbitrary sentencing of two other academics, Gubad Ibadoghlu and Fazil Gasimov, and condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the arrest of Ali Karimli, prominent opposition leader, on 1 December 2025.

MEPs called for appropriate measures within the EU global human rights sanctions regime to be taken against the officials responsible. They stressed that, as stated in Parliament’s previous resolutions, progress on any future partnership agreement should be conditional on tangible advances in human rights, the rule of law and respect for EU values and principles.

The resolution was adopted by 477 votes in favour, 7 against, and with 69 abstentions.

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Press release

The resolution will be available here