The European Commission and the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus are “closely following” the trials against the 16 Karabakh Armenian defendants that have been taking place at the Baku Military Court since 17 January of this year.
In a speech yesterday on behalf of EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Commissioner for Housing and Energy, Dan Jørgensen, told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the EU takes concerns expressed by human rights organisations over the fairness of the trials and treatment of the accused, “very seriously”.
“Our relationship with Azerbaijan is founded on principles both sides have committed themselves to – first and foremost the respect for human rights and the rule of law,” Dan Jørgensen said. “The European Union will therefore continue to call on the government of Azerbaijan to abide by its international obligations, which include the right to due process and a fair trial. We will use every opportunity to urge Azerbaijan to ensure dignified and safe conditions for detainees. The reports of torture and ill-treatment should be promptly and impartially investigated.”
He added that the trials of the Baku Military Court touch on the much larger question of achieving lasting and sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and building “a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Caucasus”.
Jørgensen also reiterated the EU’s call on both Armenia and Azerbaijan to move further on their path towards full normalisation of relations and said that the EU would continue to support this process “with all the tools at our disposal”.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday by 523 votes in favour, 3 against and 84 abstentions, the European Parliament condemned Azerbaijan’s “unlawful detention and sham trial” of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Parliament also demanded sanctions be placed on Azerbaijani officials responsible for human rights violations, in particular the prosecutors and judges Jamal Ramazanov, Anar Rzayev and Zeynal Agayev and called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.
