The continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov and Meydan TV

In this non-legislative resolution, Parliament addresses the continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and strongly condemns the reported ongoing violations of human rights, including freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and the politically motivated abuse of the criminal justice system. It urges the Azerbaijani authorities to end the crackdown on dissident groups and to unconditionally release and drop all charges against human rights defenders, journalists and activists prosecuted on fabricated charges, and demands that the travel ban on Gubad Ibadoghlu be lifted so he can receive urgent medical treatment abroad. Parliament calls for EU sanctions under its global human rights sanctions regime against named Azerbaijani officials responsible for serious human rights violations, and insists that any EU-Azerbaijan partnership agreement, including on energy, be strongly conditional on respect for fundamental rights and the release of all political prisoners, calling on the Commission to suspend the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy. It instructs its President to forward the resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States and the authorities of Azerbaijan.