MEPs demand Baku free jailed activists and critics

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Parliament has called on Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners. In a resolution adopted on December 18, the body also condemned the current Azerbaijani administration for suppressing dissent under the guise of national security, including the imprisonment of journalists, peace advocates, and human rights defenders.

“Further progress in relations with Baku must be linked to actions taken in this direction,” stated members of the European Parliament, as reported by RFE/RL.

The resolution specifically highlights the arrests of Bahruz Samedov, a scholar and long-time proponent of Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization, and Talysh researcher Iqbal Abilov. Their detentions were labeled unlawful. According to MEPs, their trials were held behind closed doors, violated fair trial standards, and ignored the presumption of innocence. The only evidence presented in court was their contact with Armenian colleagues. Both were sentenced to 15–18 years in prison on charges of high treason.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced a planned amnesty for around 20,000 people, though experts say political prisoners are unlikely to be included.