European Parliament Discusses Trials at Baku Military Court

The European Parliament held a discussion titled "The Illegal Detentions and Fake Trials of Armenian Hostages by Azerbaijan, including Senior Political Representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh." European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jorgensen, participated in the discussion.

In his closing remarks, he stated that the EU Commission is monitoring the trials in the Baku military court that have been ongoing since January 17 of this year.

“We are aware that human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the fairness of the trials and the treatment of the defendants. Many of you also voiced such concerns today here. We take these concerns very seriously and are closely following the developments. The right to a fair trial must be ensured and respected,” the commissioner emphasized, adding that the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus is also closely monitoring developments and conveying Brussels' concerns to the Azerbaijani authorities.

Speaking on the EU's cooperation with Azerbaijan, Jorgensen noted that it is based on several principles, including respect for human rights and the rule of law. “The EU will continue to urge the Azerbaijani government to uphold its international obligations, which include the rights to due process and a fair trial. We will utilize all possible avenues to call on Azerbaijan to ensure dignified and safe conditions for detainees. Reports of torture and ill-treatment must be investigated promptly and impartially,” he stressed.

According to the European Commissioner, the trials at the Baku military court touch upon the much larger issue of achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous South Caucasus. “We continue to call upon both Armenia and Azerbaijan to build upon their achievements and sustain progress towards comprehensive resolution of their relations. It is essential that the governments of both countries guide their societies in this direction. The EU will continue to support this process with all the tools at its disposal. We are ready to assist the parties in their dialogue aimed at achieving sustainable peace,” he concluded.