A discussion titled ” Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan” took place in the European Parliament.
One of the initiators of the discussion, Slovak MEP Miriam Lexmann, stated that more than 20 political hostages in Baku are held in inhumane conditions and are subjected to sham trials that could lead to life imprisonment.
“This is the real face of Aliyev’s regime, a regime which oppresses its own citizens and disregards international obligations. While the European Union comes with a strategic partnership, the regime in Baku continues to threaten its neighbours and thwart efforts towards regional peace. In the current geopolitical environment, there is a strong need for the EU to defend its values, especially in its closest neighbourhood. Instead, we are again appeasing the oppressor and rewarding Aliyev’s actions with enhanced trade. Have we not learned a lesson? It’s time to stop dreaming about a strategic partnership, face reality and act in accordance to our values and principles.
We have to take an urgent action and address claims and these clear violations of basic human rights and assure that the hostages are immediately and unconditionally released. Leading judges and prosecutors who play a role in these unjust trials should face sanctions.
And we have to make sure that any future cooperation with Azerbaijan is based on conditions of the release of all the political prisoners and demonstrated readiness of Baku to engage in a peace agreement which would respect the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians. The situation of Armenian political prisoners in Nagorno-Karabakh raises fundamental questions about justice, stability and the future of peace in the South Caucasus”, Lexmann stressed.
