The European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the immediate release of Armenian captives by Baku. It was passed with 523 votes in favor, 3 against, and 84 abstentions.
Entitled “Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh”, the resolution reads:
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Armenia and Azerbaijan,
– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas 23 Armenian hostages are being detained in Azerbaijan, including former de facto Nagorno-Karabakh officials and prisoners of war from the 2020 war and the ethnic cleansing that followed; whereas they are undergoing sham trials and facing serious charges that could result in illegal life imprisonment sentences;
B. whereas these hostages are being subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment, including through banned psychoactive methods; whereas their rights are not respected, including access to independent attorneys and interpreters and the possibility to appeal, receive family visits and be granted suspensions on health grounds; whereas this constitutes a systematic violation by Azerbaijan of international obligations regarding the treatment of prisoners;
C. whereas Ruben Vardanyan is on hunger strike and his health rapidly deteriorating; whereas the health of the other hostages is also visibly deteriorating;
1. Condemns the unjust detention of the Armenian hostages; demands their immediate and unconditional release;
2. Strongly denounces the ongoing sham trials and systematic violations of the fundamental rights of Armenian hostages, and calls on Azerbaijan to fully respect their right to a fair trial and to have access to medical doctors in compliance with international standards; expects an independent investigation into their ill-treatment;
3. Expresses deep concern at the order by the authorities in Baku to close the offices of the ICRC and UN agencies, hindering both support for the Armenian prisoners and humanitarian oversight, and calls on the authorities to review their position;
4. Calls for the EU and Member States’ embassies in Azerbaijan to observe the trials and regularly visit all Armenian hostages; calls on the VP/HR and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to visit them;
5. Calls for sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against all Azerbaijani leaders and officials committing human rights violations, in particular prosecutors and judges Jamal Ramazanov, Anar Rzayev and Zeynal Agayev;
6. Calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate cases of the forced displacement, persecution and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh; calls for the full implementation of all orders issued by the International Court of Justice, including Azerbaijan’s obligation to protect from violence and bodily harm all persons captured in relation to the 2020 war;
7. Reiterates its strong call to suspend the 2022 EU-Azerbaijan memorandum of understanding on a strategic partnership in the field of energy; insists that any future partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan be conditional on the release of all political prisoners, the improvement of the human rights situation in the country and on Azerbaijan not unduly delaying the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia and its respecting the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, including the right to return;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States and the Presidents, Governments and parliaments of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
