Political prisoners held in Penal Institution No. 2 — Hafiz Babali, Fazil Qasimov, Samir Ashurov and Mehman Aliyev — have addressed an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von dear Leyen, expressing their concerns about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and calling for concrete steps to ensure the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament.

In an appeal signed on behalf of the Initiative Group of the Committee for the Protection of Political Prisoners, it is emphasized that the European Commission must mobilize all of its available leverage to help resolve the problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The authors of the letter state that political repression in the country is deepening and that international obligations are not being upheld.

We present the letter as written.

“Dear President Ursula von der Leyen,

On behalf of the Initiative Group of the Committee for the Protection of Political Prisoners, we are addressing this appeal to inform you about the real state of human rights in Azerbaijan and to call for the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament on this matter.

First of all, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the members of the European Parliament for keeping the human rights situation in Azerbaijan under close scrutiny. Although the Parliament’s resolutions in this regard are important political documents, it is impossible for them to bring about positive change in the human rights situation in Azerbaijan without a review of the mechanisms for their implementation.

It should be noted that, while trying to establish strategic partnership relations with the governments of the European Union (EU) member states, the Azerbaijani government has for a long time been arresting scholars, journalists, NGO representatives, and activists on political grounds. It has unlawfully interfered in the work of the courts to secure unjust rulings against them, suppressed political freedoms, punished journalists for their professional activities, failed to respect academic freedom, and demonstrated intolerance toward critical opinions.

Political repression has led to the weakening of civil society in Azerbaijan, the dismantling of democratic institutions, the closure of opposition political parties and the arrest of their leaders, as well as the shutdown of a number of independent media outlets and NGOs. Most alarmingly, political persecution has fostered among the majority of Azerbaijani citizens a mindset characteristic of totalitarian regimes.

Although the Azerbaijani government does not comply with the provisions of the international treaties to which it is a party on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the European Convention on Human Rights, nevertheless, it tries to establish strategic partnership relations with European Union member states and maintains close cooperation with the European Commission in the energy sector.

While we welcome the elevation of relations between Azerbaijan and EU member states to the level of strategic partnership, as well as energy cooperation between the European Commission and Azerbaijan, we are deeply disappointed that the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan remain merely on paper, and that the European Commission has failed to mobilize its leverage to resolve the problem of political prisoners in the country.

Respect for human rights and freedoms, democratic principles, and the rule of law are core features of European culture. The European Commission must not remain silent when bearers of these values are arrested in Azerbaijan on political grounds. According to reports of international human rights organizations, there are up to 400 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. These prisoners and their families believe that, as President of the European Commission, you have the leverage to urge the Azerbaijani government to put an end to political repression and to release political prisoners, and they respectfully call on you to use this influence effectively.

Fazil Gasimov

Hafiz Babali

Samir Ashurov

Mehman Aliyev

14.02.2026”