The European Parliament debated on March 12 the motion for a resolution on unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan.
The resolution, which will be put up to vote on March 13, calls for the unconditional release and safe return of all the prisoners of war, hostages and other detained individuals unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan, strongly condemns the shams trials brought against them in violations of due process, and calls for a ban on entry to the EU institutions for Azerbaijani officials responsible for unlawful detentions and human rights violations, among others.MEP Miriam Lexmann, co-author of the resolution, said in her speech that the sham trials and inhumane treatment of the hostages show “Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev’s true face, a regime that is ignoring international obligations.”
“While the EU seeks strategic partnership, the Baku regime continues to threaten its neighbors and hinder efforts for regional peace. There is an urgent need in the present geopolitical environment for the EU to protect its values, especially in its direct neighborhood. But instead, we are again trying to appease the dictator and encourage Aliyev’s actions by expanding trade cooperation. Haven’t we learned lessons? It is time to end the illusions of strategic partnership, face reality, and act in accordance with our values and principles,” she said.
Co-author, MEP Vasile Dincu called on the EU to sanction Azeri officials for committing judicial violence against Armenian political prisoners. “We must impose strict sanctions against these officials and encourage the prevention of such violence in the future. The future is far from positive. Given the military situation in the region, we must act now and take concrete measures to not allow a future tragedy,” he added.
Co-author, MEP Nathalie Loiseau compared the sham trials against Armenians in Azerbaijan with Stalin-era trials. She said that the hostages are only guilty of “being Armenian.”The MEP expressed regret that EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas was not in attendance at the plenary session. She called on the top diplomat to visit Armenia and see a country “aspiring for peace and a dream of Europe.”
More than ten MEPs representing all political groups of the European Parliament delivered remarks at the debate, calling for a strong EU reaction on the matter, holding Azerbaijan to account, and imposing sanctions.
The natural gas bought from Azerbaijan can’t be more important than human rights and European values, the MEPs said, stressing that there is no difference between Russian and Azeri gas.
European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen also delivered a speech.
He said that the European Commission has been following the ongoing trials against the Armenian hostages. “We are aware that human rights organizations have expressed concern regarding the fairness of these trials and the treatment of the defendants. Many of you have expressed similar concerns, and today we are treating these issues very seriously, following the developments. The right to a fair trial must be guaranteed and respected. The EU’s special representative to the South Caucasus is also closely following these issues and conveying our concerns to Baku authorities,” the commissioner told the MEPs, adding that the EU-Azeri ties are based on principles that both sides must adhere to, such as human rights and rule of law.“
Thus, the EU will continue to call on the Azerbaijani government to fulfill its international obligations, which include the right to due process and fair trial. We will utilize all opportunities in order for Azerbaijan to be bound to ensure dignified and safe conditions for the detainees. The reports of torture and inhumane treatment must be urgently and impartially investigated,” he added.
He added that the EU will continue to support the Armenian-Azeri normalization process.
MEP Catarina Vieira calls on EU to reconsider ties with Azerbaijan for poor human rights record
Member of the European Parliament Catarina Vieira (Portugal) has warned the EU not to sacrifice its values for economic or energy interests while dealing with Azerbaijan.
Vieira delivered remarks at the European Parliament plenary session during debates on the motion for a resolution on “Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan.” The MEP said that there is a deep human rights crisis in Azerbaijan because the Aliyev regime has imposed severe restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, while the law enforcement system is targeting dissent.
“The Armenians held in Baku are among the groups that have mostly suffered by this policy. There is widespread ill-treatment, while fair trials are illusions in Azerbaijan,” she said.
She expressed regret that the European Parliament is seemingly the only EU institution addressing the matter. “We can’t allow our relations with Azerbaijan to continue as usual and sacrifice our values for economic and energy interests,” she said, warning that it could make the EU vulnerable to blackmail. “Haven’t we learned lessons from our past dependency on Russia? It is time to place human rights above cheap oil and gas,” the MEP said.
South Caucasus stability in EU interest, says MEP Tomasz Froelich
Member of the European Parliament from Germany Tomasz Froelich has said that stability in the South Caucasus is in the interest of the EU.
The MEP delivered remarks at the European Parliament plenary session during debates on the motion for a resolution on “Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan.”
“During the Azeri attack both the EU and Russia abandoned the Armenian people,” he said, referring to the 2023 Azeri offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh where a Russian peacekeeping force was stationed. “Hundred thousand Armenians were forced to flee, and some of them are now held hostage,” the MEP said.
He said that today the world is witnessing the coordinated destruction of the first Christian nation’s cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Why are we hearing about this so little? Stability in the South Caucasus is in the interest of the EU. We need peace talks, and we need proper treatment of Armenian captives, Armenian people, and Armenian cultural heritage,” the German MEP said.
The resolution, which will be put up to vote on March 13, calls for the unconditional release and safe return of all the prisoners of war, hostages, and other detained individuals unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan, strongly condemns the shams trials brought against them in violations of due process and calls for a ban on entry to the EU institutions for Azerbaijani officials responsible for unlawful detentions and human rights violations, among others.
Member of European Parliament Michał Szczerba calls for stronger economic ties with Armenia
Member of the European Parliament Michał Szczerba from Poland has called for deepening economic ties with Armenia in order for the country to achieve deeper integration with the West.
Szczerba made the remarks in his speech during European Parliament debates of the motion for a resolution on “Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan.”
The resolution, which will be put up to vote on March 13, calls for the unconditional release and safe return of all the prisoners of war, hostages, and other detained individuals unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan, strongly condemns the shams trials brought against them in violations of due process and calls for a ban on entry to the EU institutions for Azerbaijani officials responsible for unlawful detentions and human rights violations, among others.
Szczerba said he believes that Armenia changed its foreign policy direction after the 2023 Azeri offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh which led to the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of the region’s entire Armenian population.
“The Armenian authorities decided to change their foreign policy vector after what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh. If we want deeper integration of Armenia with the West, then we must deepen our economic ties with them. We must be more active and visible in Armenia,” he said.
He said that the issue of the Armenian captives in Azerbaijan must not be ignored.
“The reports about the Armenians held in Baku cannot be ignored. We must fight for European values, human dignity, and the rule of law,” the MEP added.
MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis calls for sanctions against Azerbaijan for war crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh
Member of the European Parliament Vytenis Andriukaitis from Lithuania has called for sanctions against Azerbaijan for its ethnic cleansing and war crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh.“Nagorno-Karabakh has been subjected to ethnic cleansing as a result of Azerbaijan’s war crimes,” he said at European Parliament debates of the motion for a resolution on “Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan.”
The resolution, which will be put up to vote on March 13, calls for the unconditional release and safe return of all the prisoners of war, hostages and other detained individuals unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan, strongly condemns the shams trials brought against them in violations of due process, and calls for a ban on entry to the EU institutions for Azerbaijani officials responsible for unlawful detentions and human rights violations, among others.“Azerbaijan has perpetrated ethnic cleansing, and it is a war crime,” Vytenis Andriukaitis said.
The MEP said Azerbaijan must be subjected to sanctions for its failure to comply with its international obligations.“There is the universal declaration of human rights and other international legal obligations, thus Azerbaijan must be subjected to sanctions for failure to fulfill them,” the MEP said.
Vytenis Andriukaitis said that the Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan are held in appalling conditions threatening their health. “We must make all possible efforts to find a solution. The political prisoners must be released as soon as possible. Azerbaijan doesn’t want to end this conflict and doesn’t want to respond to the international community’s demands,” he added.
“European Commission must not be silent,” MEP McNamara on Armenian POWs held in Baku
Member of the European Parliament Michael McNamara has called on the EU to take action against the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan.
The Irish MEP made the remarks at European Parliament debates of the motion for a resolution on “Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan.”
He said Azerbaijan refuses to cooperate with international human rights organizations.
“The European Parliament must be concerned over the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the European Commission must not be silent,” he said, comparing the Azeri trials of Armenian captives with mock trials during the rule of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The trials, as well as refusing to allow access to the media and observers, must be condemned, the MEP said.
“I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that along with the judicial processes, Azerbaijan also refuses to cooperate with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Azerbaijan is shutting down the Baku branch of the Red Cross, which is the only international organization with access to the Armenians held in Baku,” the MEP said.
The resolution, which will be put up to vote on March 13, calls for the unconditional release and safe return of all the prisoners of war, hostages and other detained individuals unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan, strongly condemns the shams trials brought against them in violations of due process, and calls for a ban on entry to the EU institutions for Azerbaijani officials responsible for unlawful detentions and human rights violations, among others.