The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Azerbaijan, which also mentions Armenians held in Baku

ArmInfo. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on political prisoners in Azerbaijan, co-sponsored by French MEP Marina Mezher. The MEP herself announced the adoption of the resolution. The document also mentions Armenians held in Baku.

"The original text of the resolution did not mention the Armenians held by the Aliyev regime after sham trials. During negotiations this week, I managed to ensure their inclusion in the final text. The fight will continue until they are released," she wrote on her Facebook page.

The resolution on the cases of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli, and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan, adopted by the European Parliament, states that the Azerbaijani authorities have intensified repression against the political opposition, independent media, and civil society through politically motivated persecution and increasingly harsh prison sentences. The resolution recalls the political persecution of Ali Karimli, chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, and Anar Mammadli, a prominent human rights activist and election observer, and the violation of human rights, against this background, and the deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan, including in the energy sector. The visit of Magdalena Grono, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, to Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2026 is also criticized.

"We strongly condemn the ongoing systematic suppression of the political opposition, independent media, and civil society in Azerbaijan. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ali Karimli, Anar Mammadli, and all persons imprisoned on politically motivated grounds, and the quashance of politically motivated convictions and charges. We condemn the punitive conditions of detention of Karimli and "We demand full access to lawyers, communication with their families, and medical care for all detainees. We reiterate our deep concern about the continued detention of Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, including former high-ranking officials of Nagorno-Karabakh, and call for their immediate and unconditional release and respect for their fundamental rights," the resolution adopted by the European Parliament reads.

The document also expresses regret that EU representatives did not publicly raise the issue of political prisoners during recent high-level visits to Azerbaijan and did not demand their release. "We warn that such silence risks undermining the credibility of EU human rights policy; "We insist that any further deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan must be conditioned by the immediate release of persons detained on politically motivated grounds and an end to repression against independent media, civil society, and the political opposition," the resolution continues.

At the same time, it is instructed to forward this resolution to the relevant EU institutions and the Azerbaijani authorities. It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown. Experts estimate there are several hundred. Today, the Azerbaijani authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians in their custody. Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity, there are 8 former and current representatives of the military-political leadership of Artsakh. These are former presidents of Artsakh; Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, as well as Parliament Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan, and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

In February, the Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison. The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison.