Call for the release of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan

Priority question for written answer P-002876/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Markéta Gregorová (Verts/ALE)

Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, renowned government critic and shortlisted 2024 Sakharov Prize nominee, has been detained in Azerbaijan since July 2023. Consequently, his participation to attend the Sakharov Prize award ceremony at the European Parliament next week has not been confirmed.

Dr Ibadoghlu's health deteriorated sharply because of the authorities' refusal to provide him with adequate medical treatment for his chronic health condition. Parliament has on several occasions called for Dr Ibadoghlu's immediate release in order for him to obtain urgent medical care abroad.

The situation for dissenting voices in Azerbaijan is catastrophic. The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku highlighted how strongly opposition and civil society is being silenced.

Despite this crackdown on the population, the EU has intensified its relations with Azerbaijan, including importing gas. In its resolution of 24 October 2024 on the situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia[1], Parliament called for the suspension of the energy trade and for any future partnership agreement to be conditional on the release of all political prisoners and improvements in the human rights situation.

• 1.What concrete and immediate steps will the Commission take to secure the release of Sakharov Prize nominee Dr Ibadoghlu and other political prisoners?
• 2.How quickly is the Commission ready to disengage, given the non-cooperation of the Azerbaijani Government?

Submitted: 11.12.2024

• [1] Texts adopted: P10_TA(2024)0029.