Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001955/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Francisco Assis (S&D)
Tofig Yagublu, an Azerbaijani political opposition leader, was wrongfully detained in December 2023. In March 2025, he was sentenced to nine years in prison on fabricated charges. On 1 April 2025, Mr Yagublu began a hunger strike, which he pledged to continue until his release. He ended his hunger strike after 40 days at the urging of his family, but it has severely affected his health.
A long-time critic of Azerbaijan’s Government, Mr Yagublu has repeatedly been persecuted, jailed and subjected to ill-treatment for his political activism. He is one of more than 350 arbitrarily detained individuals in Azerbaijan.
His health is still in critical condition, and he remains unjustly detained.
- 1.What steps is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), Kaja Kallas, taking to raise this case with the Azerbaijani Government, so that Mr Yagublu has continuous access to adequate medical care and is immediately released from detention?
- 2.How does the VP/HR intend to ensure that progress on the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan depends on the Azerbaijani Government taking concrete steps to demonstrate its commitment to protecting human rights, including by releasing all arbitrarily detained political prisoners?
Submitted: 15.5.2025