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EU Parl Watch

Adopted text, 18 December 2025

Arbitrary arrest and sentencing of academics Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov in Azerbaijan

Document TA-10-2025-0339 · P10_TA(2025)0339 · PE779.048

On Parliament’s site PDF Word

AI:In short

Parliament condemns the arrest and sentencing of academics Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov in Azerbaijan on politically motivated charges, and calls for their immediate release. It also condemns the arrest of Ali Karimli, urges Azerbaijan to align with international human rights standards, and calls for EU measures including sanctions and support for civil society. Progress on any future partnership agreement should be conditional on human rights improvements.

Key points

  1. Strongly condemns the arrest, prosecution and sentencing of Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov on politically motivated charges.
  2. Calls on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, in particular Mr Samadov, Mr Abilov and Mr Ibadoghlu, and guarantee fair trials and due process.
  3. Calls for an end to repression against journalists, activists, academics, opposition representatives, human rights defenders and other unlawfully detained individuals, including those in exile.
  4. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest of Ali Karimli and calls for his immediate release.
  5. Expresses alarm at the misuse of national security provisions for judicial harassment and criminalisation of freedom of expression, peace advocacy and public criticism.
  6. Expresses deep concern at the continuing erosion of academic freedoms and cultural rights in Azerbaijan.
  7. Calls on Azerbaijan to respect and align its legislation with international human rights obligations and standards, including freedom of expression and academic freedom.
  8. Calls for consideration of appropriate measures within the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against relevant responsible officials.
  9. Calls on the EU Delegation in Baku to monitor the cases and on the EU Human Rights Special Representative to meet with the detained academics.
  10. Calls for the EU to further support human rights and democratic governance in Azerbaijan, including by increasing support for civil society.
  11. Stresses that progress on any future partnership agreement should be conditional on tangible advancements in human rights, the rule of law and respect for EU values, including release of political detainees and lifting restrictive legislation.

Who is affected

  • Azerbaijan: must release political prisoners, ensure fair trials, end repression, and align legislation with international standards.
  • EU institutions: consider sanctions, monitor cases, support civil society, and condition partnership progress on human rights.
  • Detained academics and political prisoners: their release is demanded.

Figures and deadlines

  • Almost 400 political prisoners in Azerbaijan since the beginning of 2025.
  • Igbal Abilov sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment.
  • Bahruz Samadov sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Text 19 paragraphs

European Parliament resolution of 18 December 2025 on the arbitrary arrest and sentencing of academics Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov in Azerbaijan (2025/3028(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan,

–having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas since the beginning of 2025, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has surged to almost 400 individuals, arbitrarily detained on politically motivated charges, among them civil society activists, opposition leaders, journalists, academics, and human rights defenders;

B.whereas Igbal Abilov, a Talysh ethnic minority researcher and editor-in-chief of Talysh National Academy News, and Bahruz Samadov, a PhD student at Charles University, were sentenced to 18 and 15 years’ imprisonment respectively on charges of high treason;

C.whereas the trials of both academics were held behind closed doors, in violation of international fair trial standards and the presumption of innocence; whereas the alleged evidence consisted solely of contacts and exchanges with Armenian scholars; whereas their health condition has deteriorated during imprisonment;

D.whereas these cases follow the unjust and arbitrary sentencing of two other academics, Gubad Ibadoghlu and Fazil Gasimov;

E.whereas on 1 December 2025, prominent opposition leader Ali Karimli was arrested on alleged coup charges as part of the ongoing consolidation of authoritarian practices in Azerbaijan;

1.Strongly condemns the arrest, prosecution and sentencing of Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov on politically motivated charges;

2.Calls on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, in particular Mr Samadov, Mr Abilov and Mr Ibadoghlu, guarantee fair trials and due process, and end repression against journalists, activists, academics, opposition representatives, human right defenders and other unlawfully detained individuals, including those in exile;

3.Condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest of Ali Karimli and calls for his immediate release;

Read the rest (7 paragraphs)

4.Expresses particular alarm at the misuse of national security provisions as tools for judicial harassment, intimidation, and the criminalisation of freedom of expression, peace advocacy and public criticism; expresses deep concern at the continuing erosion of academic freedoms and cultural rights in Azerbaijan;

5.Calls on Azerbaijan to respect and align its legislation with international human rights obligations and standards, including those related to freedom of expression and academic freedom;

6.Calls for the consideration of appropriate measures within the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against relevant responsible officials;

7.Calls on the EU Delegation in Baku to monitor the aforementioned cases and on the EU Human Rights Special Representative to conduct meetings with the detained academics;

8.Calls for the EU to further support human rights and democratic governance in Azerbaijan, including by increasing support for civil society, and ensure that diplomatic engagement remains consistent with the EU’s core values;

9.Stresses that progress on any future partnership agreement should be conditional on tangible advancements in human rights, the rule of law and respect for EU values and principles, including the release of political detainees and the lifting of restrictive legislation, as stated in Parliament’s previous resolutions;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States and the President, Government and Parliament of Azerbaijan.