The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a new resolution calling on Azerbaijan to release the detained Artsakh leadership and other Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku, according to a statement released by PACE.
The relevant section of the resolution reads: “4.2 with respect to Azerbaijan, with reference to its Resolution 2527 (2024) “Challenge, on substantive grounds, of the still unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan”, the Assembly remains seriously concerned about the further deterioration of the state of democracy, rule of law and human rights in the country. It remains concerned about the continuing crackdown on political and civil society activists, media representatives and other government critics. It exhorts the authorities to end retaliatory prosecutions and to immediately release all those who are detained on politically motivated charges. It calls upon the authorities to amend the Law on Political Parties, the Law on Media and the relevant legislation concerning NGOs, in line with the recommendations of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission). The Assembly also strongly deplores the authorities’ refusal to co-operate with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and calls on them to resume without delay its co-operation with this body. Moreover, the Assembly deplores the lack of invitation to observe the 2024 early presidential and parliamentary elections. It notes with regret that, according to international observers, these elections did not meet international standards for democratic elections and were held under increased restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and association. It also strongly condemns, and considers unacceptable, that on 26 August 2024, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared personae non gratae the 76 members of the Assembly who had voted in favour of Resolution 2527 (2024). It exhorts the authorities to immediately revoke this ban and to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Council of Europe’s bodies – in particular the Committee of Ministers, the Secretary General and the Assembly itself – on all outstanding issues. The Assembly, referring to its Resolution 2517 (2023) and Recommendation 2260 (2023) on “The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh”, and the Resolution 2560 (2024) on “The honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia”, continues to follow the situation with detained representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and all Armenian prisoners of war currently held in Azerbaijan, reiterating its call to Azerbaijan to release these people.”
PACE voiced deep concern over the deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Azerbaijan.
The Assembly condemns the violence against political and civil society activists, media representatives, and other government critics.
The resolution urges the Azerbaijani authorities to end persecution and immediately release all individuals detained on politically motivated charges.
It also emphasizes the need to amend the Laws on Political Parties and Media following the Venice Commission’s recommendations.
The resolution further notes that the 2024 presidential elections in Azerbaijan did not meet international democratic standards and were held under restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly.
Azerbaijan has confirmed that it is holding 23 Armenian prisoners of war, including former military-political leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
These individuals were illegally arrested and transferred to Baku following Azerbaijan’s military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023.
Currently, sham trials of Armenian prisoners of war are taking place in Baku.