MEP Fernand Kartheiser (Luxembourg) sends urgent written questions to the European Commission, inquiring on the possibility to send EU representatives to follow the trial proceedings of the detained Armenian hostages in Baku.
The full question reads as:
“Azerbaijan has recently ordered the closure of the ICRC office in Baku, the only international organisation that had regular access to Armenian detainees. This has effectively eliminated external humanitarian monitoring of their detention conditions.
Credible reports also point to deteriorating health among several detainees, denial of adequate medical care, lack of contact with families, solitary confinement, and politically motivated, fabricated charges. Despite this, during a parliamentary hearing in Belgium last April, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan stated that trials of Armenian detainees are open to all foreign diplomats in Baku.
In September, Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized that the issue of detainees remains unresolved and that securing their release is a critical humanitarian priority. This issue does not hinder, but facilitates the peace process.
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In light of these developments and the EU’s mediating role in the region, what concrete measures will the Commission take to:
1. Ensure that a representative of the EU delegation in Baku (or another international observer) is present at upcoming trials of Armenian detainees;
2. Facilitate urgent and independent medical assessments for detainees at risk;
3. Provide a clear timeline for when the Commission will publicly report on these steps and on Azerbaijan’s compliance with international obligations?”
