In a resolution overwhelmingly approved by its members, the European Union legislature said the “sham trials” are accompanied by “inhumane and degrading treatment” of the defendants that also include eight other Karabakh Armenians captured during Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive.
The resolution urges the EU and its member states to have their Baku-based diplomats “observe the trials and regularly visit all Armenian hostages.” It calls for EU sanctions against Azerbaijani official “committing human rights violations”
The resolution says the EU must also suspend an agreement on “strategic partnership” in the field of energy signed with Azerbaijan in 2022.
The head of the EU’s executive body, Ursula von der Leyen, described Azerbaijan as a “key partner in our efforts to move away from Russian fossil fuels” when she signed the energy deal in Baku. The EU was due to double imports of Azerbaijani natural gas by 2027.
The separate trials of Ruben Vardanyan, a former Karabakh premier, and the other former Karabakh leaders, including three ex-presidents of the region, began on January 17. They are facing a long list of charges, including genocide and war crimes.
Vardanyan strongly denies the accusations. The Armenian-born businessman and philanthropist went on hunger strike on February 18 to protest against what he called a “political show” marred by “egregious due process abuses.” Vardanyan announced the end of his hunger strike in another audio message circulated by his family on Friday.
Earlier on Thursday, a senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev rejected calls for the release of Vardanyan and other Armenian captives in apparent anticipation of the European Parliament resolution.
“A trial is underway in Baku against those who committed crimes against humanity,” said Hikmet Hajiyev. “Armenia is today conducting a pointless propaganda campaign against this trial.”
The Armenian government has been treading carefully on the trials, leading its domestic critics to say that it is doing little to secure the release of the Armenian prisoners for fear of angering Baku.
