European Parliament Calls on Azerbaijan to Unconditionally Release All Political Prisoners

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) strongly condemn the Azerbaijani authorities’ misuse of national security provisions as instruments of judicial harassment and the criminalisation of freedom of expression, peace advocacy, and public criticism.

MEPs call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Bahruz Samadov, a PhD student at Charles University, and Igbal Abilov, a researcher from the Talysh ethnic minority and editor-in-chief of Talysh National Academy News. They also denounce the unjust and arbitrary sentencing of two other academics, Gubad Ibadoghlu and Fazil Gasimov, and condemn in the strongest possible terms the arrest of prominent opposition leader Ali Karimli on 1 December 2025.

Furthermore, MEPs call for appropriate measures to be taken against those responsible under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. They stress that, in line with Parliament’s previous resolutions, progress on any future partnership agreement with Azerbaijan must be conditional on tangible improvements 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, with 69 abstentions. The Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, claims that an unfair resolution against Azerbaijan has been adopted in the European Parliament.

Further details will be available in the full text of the resolution.