19.3. Продължаващите репресии срещу гражданското общество и независимите медии в Азербайджан и случаите на д-р Губад Ибадоглу, Анар Мамадли, Камран Мамадли, Руфат Сафаров и телевизионния канал „Мейдан“
President. – The next item on the agenda is the debate on the continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov and Meydan TV ().
Sebastião Bugalho, Autor. – Senhor Presidente, Senhora Comissária, a relação entre a União Europeia e o Azerbaijão remonta a 1996.
São quase 30 anos de uma relação de cooperação onde acordámos, há 30 anos, que essa parceria assentaria em duas coisas: na democracia e na defesa dos direitos humanos. Infelizmente, 30 anos depois, a realidade é outra.
O caminho percorrido pelo regime do Azerbaijão obriga-nos a repudiar esse caminho, precisamente pela falta de respeito dos direitos humanos. Esta Câmara e esta resolução exigem a libertação de todos os presos políticos, dos defensores e ativistas de direitos humanos, dos jornalistas que se encontram detidos em condições desumanas.
No Azerbaijão, hoje, o preço a pagar pela liberdade é o mais elevado de todos, algumas vezes: a vida. Este é o desfecho por que podem esperar muitos daqueles que lutam pela liberdade neste país.
Apesar dos avisos da comunidade internacional, apesar dos avisos deste Parlamento, desta União, as autoridades do Azerbaijão insistem em percorrer o mesmo caminho errado.
As violações de direitos humanos são uma espécie de novo normal que tem de continuar a ser uma anormalidade para este Parlamento, para aqueles que defendem os direitos na comunidade internacional.
O Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu é uma conhecida figura da oposição e um dos finalistas do Prémio Sakharov para a Liberdade de Pensamento deste ano. É apenas um dos 300 nomes — 300 nomes —, que foram alvo de tortura e um dos 300 seres humanos perseguidos pelas suas convicções.
O Parlamento que se levantou para cumprimentar a sua filha, que estava ali em cima, é o mesmo Parlamento que não pode esquecer a vida do seu pai e a vida daqueles que com ele lutam pela liberdade no Azerbaijão.
Matthias Ecke, Verfasser. – Herr Präsident! Frau Kommissarin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Der Name Qubad İbadoğlu ist in meiner Heimatstadt Dresden wohlbekannt. Der Wissenschaftler sollte dort eine Gastprofessur antreten, aber er wurde vorher verhaftet. İbadoğlus Fall hat uns auch generell für die Menschenrechtslage in Aserbaidschan sensibilisiert. Wir denken auch an die Fälle von Anar Məmmədli, Kamran Məmmədli, von Rüfət Səfərov und des TV-Senders Meydan.
Wir sprechen in diesem Haus nicht das erste Mal über die Menschenrechtssituation in Aserbaidschan und auch über den konkreten Fall von Herrn İbadoğlu. Wir hatten große Erwartungen, verbunden mit der Öffentlichkeit, die die COP29 in Baku herstellt. Wir hatten erwartet, dass die Weltöffentlichkeit, die sich auf dieses Ereignis richtet, einen Vorteil bringt für die Menschen dort.
Das ist nicht passiert, und deswegen glaube ich, wir sollten uns sehr genau überlegen, ob die Vorstellung, dass man mit großen Ereignissen, mit Medienaufmerksamkeit, mit Zivilgesellschaft, die mobilisiert ist, solche Diktaturen verändern kann, nicht zu weit gegriffen ist.
Lassen Sie uns zukünftig genauer hinschauen. Lassen Sie uns nicht erwarten, dass allein ein Ereignis wie COP29 dort Verbesserungen bringt, sondern wir müssen an diesen Themen dranbleiben, täglich, im diplomatischen Austausch und mit Druck auch der EU. Deswegen, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, sollten wir in dieser Situation die weiteren Verhandlungen über ein strategisches Abkommen mit Aserbaidschan aussetzen.
Bert-Jan Ruissen, auteur. – Voorzitter, alle ogen waren onlangs gericht op de VN-klimaatconferentie in Bakoe. Sommigen zagen daarin een mooie gelegenheid om Azerbeidzjan aan te zetten tot een betere naleving van de mensenrechten. Maar helaas, het tegenovergestelde gebeurde. Bakoe gebruikte de conferentie vooral als afleidingsmanoeuvre om dissidenten te arresteren. En die arrestaties gaan maar door: mensenrechtenactivisten, journalisten. Ze verdwijnen een voor een achter de tralies. En over mensenrechten gesproken: Wat te denken van de massale verdrijving van Armeniërs uit Nagorno-Karabach?
Ondertussen ziet de Europese Unie Azerbeidzjan nog gewoon als een waardevolle en betrouwbare samenwerkingspartner. Ik begrijp dat niet. Het wordt echt tijd, geachte commissaris, voor een andere benadering. Ik denk concreet aan het opschorten van de energiedeal. Ik denk concreet aan het opleggen van individuele sancties. We mogen niet langer werkeloos toezien hoe mensen als Gubad Ibadoghlu wegkwijnen onder huisarrest of ergens anders in de donkere gevangenissen van dit wrede regime.
Petras Auštrevičius, author. – MrPresident, Commissioner, more fossil fuels, fewer political rights and a growing number of political prisoners – this is the reality of Azerbaijan today.
The EU-Azerbaijan energy cooperation is not worth the price we and the people of Azerbaijan are paying for it, especially as our goodwill in asking the Azeri authorities to allow Sakharov Prize finalist DrGubad Ibadoghlu to attend the award ceremony have been so bluntly ignored.Furthermore, an online exchange with MrIbadoghlu, which was due to take place yesterday, was openly prevented by cutting communication lines and preventing and intimidating his relatives.
When MrIbadoghlu and Václav Havel Human Rights Awardee Anar Mammadli are martyred without medical care, and independent media are forced into the 'online ghetto', we cannot delay any longer the application of the EU's Magnitsky Act sanctions against the Azeri officials responsible, in particular Fuad Alasgarov, Vilayat Eyvazov and Ali Naghiyev.
Lena Schilling, author. – Mr President, yesterday we celebrated the European prize for human rights. And today, dear colleagues, we must continue to fight for them. The brave voices in Azerbaijan are being silenced – 13 people have been arrested just since the climate conference. Activists, journalists and anyone who dares to speak out; they get intimidated, imprisoned or have to move into exile.
We as the EU need to take action. We cannot keep signing energy deals that fund fossil autocrats and keep us locked into oil and gas dependency. We cannot close our eyes to the destruction and suffering it causes every day. If diplomacy is failing, we need to impose sanctions on those responsible, support people fighting for freedom and, finally, cut our dependency from fossil fuel dictators, for Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Nargiz Absalamova and Aziz Orujov, and for every single brave person imprisoned because they dared to speak up. We will do it for you right now until you can again.
Marina Mesure, auteur. – Monsieur le Président, malgré les tentatives de Bakou de redorer son blason, comme lors de l’organisation de la dernière COP, le régime d’Aliyev met sa population sous le joug d’une répression toujours plus violente. Les droits de l’homme y sont systématiquement bafoués, et les journalistes particulièrement visés. Près de 20journalistes ont été arrêtés depuis le 1erjanvier pour des motifs fallacieux, ce qui vaut à l’Azerbaïdjan de figurer au rang des pires pays pour la liberté de la presse, selon Reporters sans frontières. Human Rights Watch a également documenté la torture et le traitement dégradant que subissent 23prisonniers de guerre arrêtés lors de l’épuration ethnique au Haut-Karabakh. Je pense aussi à notre compatriote ThéoClerc, condamné à trois ans de prison pour un graffiti parce qu’il est français, et que la France défend la souveraineté de l’Arménie.
L’impunité doit cesser contre les agissements d’un pouvoir toujours plus répressif envers sa population et agressif envers son voisin arménien. L’Union européenne doit agir en mettant un terme à l’accord gazier qui nous lie à Aliyev et en exigeant la libération de tous les prisonniers politiques et de tous les prisonniers de guerre actuellement aux mains du pouvoir en place.
Marta Temido, em nome do Grupo S&D. – Senhor Presidente, Senhora Comissária, no Azerbaijão, a repressão de estado imposta à sociedade civil e aos meios de comunicação independentes ganhou relevo nas vésperas da realização da COP29, com recurso, pelas autoridades, a acusações politicamente motivadas para deter ativistas e jornalistas, com o objetivo de silenciar e restringir os direitos fundamentais dos cidadãos.
Um dos casos paradigmáticos é o de Gubad Ibadoghlu, um economista e ativista político na luta contra a corrupção, que se encontra, atualmente, em prisão domiciliária, sem acesso aos cuidados de saúde que a sua condição clínica reclama e que, tendo sido um dos finalistas do Prémio Sakharov 2024, se viu ontem, quando estava prevista a sua participação remota na cerimónia aqui no Parlamento Europeu, impedido de aceder, sequer, à reunião através da Internet.
Mas não é o único caso que devemos denunciar. Recordo, aqui, os demais defensores dos direitos humanos, detidos arbitrariamente, com o objetivo claro de silenciar as críticas ao governo em funções.
A Comunidade Internacional e a União Europeia têm de usar todos os meios ao seu dispor para reclamar do Azerbaijão a libertação imediata e incondicional de todos os presos políticos e o respeito dos direitos fundamentais dos seus cidadãos. E os meios à sua disposição, como não pode deixar de ser, são também uma revisão urgente do memorando de entendimento sobre uma parceria estratégica e o imperativo de inserir cláusulas de condicionalidade em todos os acordos de parceria entre a União e este país.
Aleksandar Nikolic, au nom du groupe PfE. – Monsieur le Président, le docteur GoubadIbadoghlou, connu entre autres pour son activisme anticorruption et ses critiques envers l’autocrate azerbaïdjanais IlhamAliyev, est désormais sous résidence surveillée et sous la menace d’une peine d’emprisonnement. Son état de santé se dégrade, et sa vie est en danger.
Ce Parlement a pris acte du sort du docteur Ibadoghlou en allant jusqu’à le désigner finaliste du prix Sakharov pour la liberté de l’esprit. Il a également reconnu que ce cas précis n’était pas un cas isolé, l’Azerbaïdjan étant coutumier de la répression envers toute personne qui critique le pouvoir.
Donc, faisons le bilan. Ce pays massacre les Arméniens du Haut-Karabakh, il tente de déstabiliser mon pays, la France, de manière avérée dans ses territoires ultramarins –que ce soit en Nouvelle-Calédonie ou à la Martinique–, il opprime toute forme de dissidence à l’égard de son dictateur, IlhamAliyev, et, pourtant, parce que vous avez suicidé notre indépendance énergétique sur l’autel des Verts, Bruxelles continue de soutenir ce régime en accélérant notre coopération gazière avec Bakou. Cela fait de vous des complices indirects de l’un des pires régimes de la planète. En vous regardant dans le miroir, c’est la honte qui devrait vous envahir.
Dan Barna, în numele grupului Renew. – Domnule președinte, în cursul acestei sesiuni plenare, acesta este al patrulea meu discurs. Toate au fost pe aceeași temă. Este extrem de îngrijorător cum tema drepturilor omului și măsurile antidemocratice se repetă, deși am vorbit despre situații și țări complet diferite.
Despre Azerbaidjan, rapoartele recente și cele mai puțin recente evidențiază o tendință îngrijorătoare. Guvernul azer continuă să hărțuiască, să încarcereze sau să amenințe cu violența jurnaliști, membri ai opoziției și activiști ai societății civile, pentru simpla exercitare a drepturilor lor fundamentale.
Aceste acțiuni sunt un atac direct asupra principiilor democrației și drepturilor omului pe care le susținem în această în acest Parlament. Erodarea sistematică a libertăților și înăbușirea dizidenței în Azerbaidjan nu sunt doar chestiuni interne. Ele subminează înseși principiile guvernării democratice și normele internaționale de drept.
Trebuie să condamnăm fără echivoc aceste încălcări și să luăm o poziție fermă împotriva tendințelor antidemocratice ale guvernului azer.
Este imperativ să sprijinim victimele acestuia și să pledăm pentru (cuvinte care nu se aud) omului în Azerbaidjan. Să acționăm rapid și cu determinare pentru a ne asigura că drepturile fundamentale ale tuturor oamenilor din Azerbaidjan sunt respectate și protejate.
Catarina Vieira, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, dear colleagues, over the past few years we've seen in many debates here the ongoing repression that civil society has faced in Azerbaijan. But I'm really shocked to see it unfolding at this very moment and with consequences for this very House. Ϸվ elected Mr Gubad Ibadoghlu as a Sakharov finalist. So yesterday his peers were here and they were here in person to accept this honour. But he was not because his travel ban was not lifted. In house arrest, his internet connection was eventually cut off, stopping him from having an online intervention in meetings of political groups. His family was threatened – if he would speak, things would happen. We so often speak in big terms about third countries' undue influence in the EU, and rightfully so, but rarely do we see this meddling happening right in front of our eyes, like we see right here and right now.
I urge our presidents to take resolute action to protect Dr Ibadoghlu. I urge Member States to finally prioritise the horrendous human rights situation in their relationships with Baku, and I urge the Commission to suspend the MoU in the field of energy. Enough impunity – if we are serious about protecting democracy we need to act now.
Helmut Brandstätter (Renew). – Mr President, dear colleagues, you already talked about Doctor Gubad Ibadoghlu and we talked to him and at the same time there was his daughter, and she cannot go to him and he cannot go to her. I have two daughters and I really have a hard time not talking about this – how impossible is this situation for these people? We know about the hundreds of millions, obviously, that Aliyev and his people are stealing and bringing to London, to Europe, to any places. Okay, he wants to be rich, but why do they have to be so cruel? Why is it not possible that a father can meet a daughter and a daughter can meet the father? That's something which is really incredible and that's why we have to do something, and we have to tell him we don't want to have any business with those people. We have to tell him that this is not the way you can do business with European nations. We have to be much clearer and we have to tell the real, very clear message to the people of Azerbaijan: we continue to support you in your fight for you to have a country free of corruption and free of this political violence.
Jessika Roswall, Member of the Commission. – MrPresident, honourable Members, the debate has shown that the international attention on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan remains crucial.
The pressure on civil society seems to have increased just as the COP29 concluded in Baku.
Like this House, we have been following with serious concern the recent detentions of several Meydan TV journalists, as well as of independent journalist Ramin Jabrayilzade, renowned human rights activities activist Rufat Safarov and civil activist Azer Gasimli.
Moreover, Ilhamiz Guliyev, who was arrested last year inconnection with the Abzas Media case, was sentenced to three years in prison.
These and other cases raised during today's debate add to the large number of arbitrary detentions since late 2023 which have systematically targeted journalists, human rights defenders and activists critical of the government.
President, honourable members, let me be clear. We value our relationship with Azerbaijan, but our relationship is founded on principles both sides have committed themselves to. First and foremost, the respect for human rights and the rule of law.
As the European Union, we will therefore continue to call on the government of Azerbaijan to abide by its international obligations, which include the freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to due process and fair trial.
We will use every opportunity to urge Azerbaijan to release all those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights and to ensure dignified and safe conditions for detainees.
The unsettling reports of torture and ill treatment should be promptly and impartially investigated. In this regard, we are also extremely concerned by the situation of current and former detainees in dire health conditions, including Gubad Ibadoghlu, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Anar Mammadli and Alasgar Mammadli.
One of the recently detained Meydan TV journalist, Aysel Umudova, also suffered from health problems, which further aggravates her pre-trial detention.
I welcome the Ϸվ's invitation to Dr Ibadoghlu to attend the Sakharov Prize ceremony that took place yesterday. We all wished he could be here in person to join the debate. We will continue to urge Azerbaijan to lift DrIbadoghlu's travel ban and to allow him to access the medical treatment he urgently needs abroad.
President, honourable Members, I am grateful for this House's persistence in drawing attention to the fate of DrIbadoghlu and the many other brave individuals mentioned today. It is an expression of our shared commitment to human rights and the rule of law as guiding principles in our engagement with Azerbaijan and other partners around the world.
President. – Thank you very much, Madam Commissioner and, if I may, thank you for sharing your birthday dinner with us!
The debate is closed. I have received seven motions for resolutions. The vote will be held tomorrow.