Participants in the European Parliament hearing called for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Pressure on the opposition, civil society, and independent media is increasing in Azerbaijan, according to participants in a European Parliament hearing. The European Commission should call on Azerbaijan to release political prisoners and end the persecution of government critics, they concluded.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, Azerbaijani parliamentarians decided to suspend all ties between the Milli Majlis and the European Parliament after the European Parliament adopted a resolution affirming the right of return for Armenians to Karabakh and demanding the release of Armenian prisoners of war. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry handed the EU Ambassador a note of protest.

On May 7, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights held a hearing on the human rights situation and media freedom in Azerbaijan. Representatives of civil society and the media, including human rights activist Samad Rahimli and journalist Leyla Mustafayeva, who live in Europe, participated in the meeting, which resulted in the adoption of an appeal to European institutions, according to a video published by the Open Azerbaijan resource on YouTube.

For many years, the Azerbaijani authorities have been using criminal law against representatives of the opposition, civil society, and independent media, according to Samad Rahimli, a human rights activist and lawyer who coordinates the "End Repression in Azerbaijan" human rights campaign. He believes that the main targets of pressure are the democratic political opposition, independent civil society organizations, and critical media.

"Over the past 20 years, organized opposition structures within the country have significantly weakened. Many representatives of democratic forces, independent civil society, and critical media today continue to operate outside the country. Some activists and journalists are under investigation or fear possible persecution," the human rights activist noted.

Since the end of 2022, pressure on activists and independent media has intensified, according to him. Among the methods used, Rahimli mentioned criminal cases, administrative arrests, trials, and smear campaigns. "Today, cases of dissent are often subject to criminal prosecution," he emphasized. The human rights activist also noted that two main groups of criminal cases are currently attracting attention: one is related to charges against members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and its chairman, Ali Karimli, while the other is related to investigations into media organizations and civil society entities related to financial matters. According to human rights activists, criminal law is interpreted quite broadly in the cases against members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and Ali Karimli, which raises concerns among civil society representatives. The second group of cases concerns various media organizations and NGOs, including Abzas Media, Toplum TV, the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, ResPlatforma, the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, Məclis.info, and others. According to representatives of the human rights community, these cases raise questions regarding the application of financial legislation to civil and socio-political activities," he stated. Rahimli.

Leyla Mustafayeva, editor-in-chief of the online publication Qəzetçi, speaking at the hearing, also stated that the level of pressure on civil society in Azerbaijan has increased significantly in recent years.

“Since the end of 2023, Azerbaijan has seen increasing pressure on civil society. Human rights activists estimate the number of political prisoners at approximately 400. Four months after the European Parliament's resolution of December 18 last year, researchers Bahruz Samedov and Igbal Abilov remain in custody,” she said.

Mustafayeva noted that Samedov and Abilov were sentenced to lengthy prison terms on charges of treason. "These cases, according to a number of human rights activists and journalists, raise questions regarding cultural and academic freedoms," the journalist emphasized.

Mustafayeva also mentioned new sentences handed down since the beginning of 2026 in a number of high-profile cases. "Politician Azer Gasimli was sentenced to 12 years in prison on extortion charges. Yoldaş Media founder Ahmed Mammadli received six years, and social activist Zamin Zyaki received 7.5 years in the so-called 'NGO case,'" she said.

About 30 journalists in Azerbaijan are under arrest on charges related to financial violations and currency smuggling. "Representatives of the journalistic community believe these charges are related to the publication of corruption investigations. Abzas Media journalists have already been sentenced on these charges to prison terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years," the journalist noted.

Some of the arrested journalists have serious health problems. "Despite cooperation programs with European structures on judicial reform, human rights organizations continue to report cases of abuse and problems with access to medical care in prisons. Journalists Aytaj Tapdyg, Khayala Agayeva, Aysel Umudova, and Ulviya Ali, according to them, were subjected to pressure while in custody. Toplum TV co-founder Alesker Mammadli, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and Meydan TV editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunesh, according to their supporters, need medical examinations," she emphasized.

Mustafaeva also touched on the topic of transnational persecution. "Pressure on journalists and activists abroad has intensified in recent years. On the night of April 5, 2026, Georgian-based journalist Afgan Sadigov was handed over to Azerbaijan despite a temporary ruling by the European Court of Human Rights prohibiting his deportation," Mustafayeva recalled.

She also cited examples of in absentia convictions of journalists, bloggers, and researchers based abroad: Sevinj Osmangyzy, Altay Geyushev, and Arastun Orujlu. Azer Gasimli's wife, Samira Gasimli, was prevented from leaving Baku due to travel restrictions.

Deren Darya, Head of the Eastern Partnership Unit at the European External Action Service, representing the European Commission, called the arrests of Bahruz Samedov and Igbal Abilov "concerning." "Contradictions in the criminal cases indicate that their academic activities may have been the reason for their arrests. This raises questions about the fairness of the judicial system and the state of academic freedom," she emphasized.

Citing data from local human rights activists, Darya noted that there are more than 350 political prisoners in the country. "EU representatives are monitoring the trials, maintaining contact with lawyers, and continuing to support independent media," she added.

Noting that Azerbaijan is a "reliable energy partner" for the EU, the EU representative emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue on human rights and judicial reform. Dutch MEP Katharina Vieira stated that the EU should not ignore human rights issues in its relations with Azerbaijan.

Following the hearings, participants adopted an appeal to European institutions calling on them to facilitate the release of individuals considered political prisoners by human rights organizations, including Bahruz Samedov, Igbal Abilov, and other imprisoned journalists and politicians. A call was also made to end the cross-border persecution of journalists, activists, and dissidents abroad.

"It is necessary to prevent possible abuses of international search mechanisms, criminal prosecutions in absentia, and the practice of pressuring third countries to detain and deport opposition-minded individuals," the appeal states.