MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, imprisoned in Azerbaijan

12.9.2023 - (2023/2832(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Viola von Cramon‑Taubadel, Francisco Guerreiro, Markéta Gregorová, Ignazio Corrao, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Hannah Neumann, Jordi Solé, Heidi Hautala, Bronis Ropė
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0369/2023

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0370/2023

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, imprisoned in Azerbaijan

(2023/2832(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan,

– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

1. whereas on 23 July 2023, prominent economist, opposition figure and long-time advocate for democracy Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and his wife Irada Bayramova were brutally physically assaulted and detained by Azerbaijani police in Baku;

 

2. whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu was charged with the "preparation, acquisition, or sale of forged securities to an organised group", and with “the preparation, storage and distribution of religious extremist materials”, and faces a prison sentence of up to 12 years if convicted;

 

3. whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu is being persecuted for his civic activities and criticism of the government, particularly in relation to human rights violations and corruption among Azerbaijan’s political elite;

 

4. whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu recently established the Azerbaijani Youth Education Foundation in the United Kingdom and announced a plan to fund it with confiscated assets from corrupt Azerbaijani elites;

 

5. whereas the authorities have repeatedly obstructed Dr Ibadoghlu’s private access to his lawyer and warned Dr Ibadoghlu’s defense counsel to refrain from “politicizing” his case;

 

6. whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu suffers from type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and poor eyesight, and his family says he has been denied access to medicine; whereas his relatives are also facing state harassment and have been banned from leaving the country;

1. Strongly condemns the politically-motivated arrest of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu and detention of Irada Bayramova; urges the government of Azerbaijan to immediately release Dr. Ibadoghlu, drop all charges against him, and allow him to leave the country;
2. Expresses serious concern about deteriorated health of Dr. Ibadoghlu and condemns any limitation to his access to medication, which may amount to torture; urges the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure adequate and appropriate medical treatment and care for Dr. Ibadoghlu while in custody without delay;
3. Calls for a prompt and effective investigation into the reported ill-treatment of Dr. Ibadoghlu and Mrs Bayramova and the violations of their due process rights, including access to their lawyers; further calls on the authorities to immediately lift the ban on Dr. Ibadoghlu’s relatives leaving the country;
4. Condemns the prosecution of opposition figures by the Aliyev regime and the government’s sinister misuse of the criminal justice system to target peaceful criticism and dissent; is concerned that Dr Ibadoghlu’s arrest represents a new phase of Azerbaijan authorities’ crack down on civil society;
5. Calls on the EU Commission to ensure that Azerbaijan’s appalling human rights situation is prioritised in its relations with Azerbaijan; notes that closer trade relations can only be pursued further if Azerbaijan releases Dr Ibadoghlu and all those unfairly imprisoned, and significantly improves its human rights record; stresses that this case only further underlines the pressing need for stronger human rights conditionality in the Union’s relations with Azerbaijan;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and to the President and the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan.