News - European Parliament calls on EU to suspend strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan in energy sector

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on human rights violations in Azerbaijan, calling on the European Commission to suspend energy cooperation with Azerbaijan and to make any future cooperation with the country conditional on the release of political prisoners and improvement of the overall human rights situation.In addition, the resolution states that the ongoing human rights violations in Azerbaijan are incompatible with preparations for the COP29 conference in that country.The MEPs also demand that Azerbaijan release all political prisoners, remind the Azerbaijani authorities of their obligation to respect human rights and dignity, and call for the repeal of repressive legislation that outlaws independent non-governmental organizations and media outlets.The resolution calls on the EU to impose sanctions on those Azerbaijani officials who have committed human rights violations. The majority of MPs who spoke during the debate preceding the adoption of the resolution expressed concern about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, called on the European Commission to suspend strategic co-operation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector and to stop considering the Aliyev regime as a strategic partner. The MPs also emphasized that the ongoing human rights violations in Azerbaijan are incompatible with the holding of the COP29 conference in the country.