Azerbaijan dismisses Europe rights resolution as 'scrap of paper'

Azerbaijan's government has reacted angrily to a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Pace) condemning the "systematic silencing" of independent journalists and opposition figures.

The Strasbourg-based assembly voted 68 to eight in favour of the resolution on Monday, which demands the immediate release of dozens of political prisoners in the South Caucasian nation.

Samad Seyidov, the head of Azerbaijan's parliamentary foreign relations committee, dismissed the document as a "scrap of paper" that served "anti-Azerbaijani lies and slander".

Speaking to the state news agency APA, Mr Seyidov accused European institutions of "double standards" and attempting to destabilise the region just as peace talks with neighbouring Armenia progressed.

"They have never been sincere towards this region," Mr Seyidov said. "They must understand that times have changed, Azerbaijan has changed, and the region has changed."

The Pace resolution, based on a report by Belgian parliamentarian Christophe Lacroix, painted a grim picture of civil liberties under President Ilham Aliyev.

It stated that the media sector in Azerbaijan has been "entirely captured by the state" and characterised the domestic situation as "clear and systematic disrespect for freedom of expression".

According to the Council of Europe's media safety platform, 36 independent journalists are currently detained in the country. Azerbaijan ranks 171st out of 180 nations on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

The resolution highlighted the prosecution of staff at investigative outlet Abzas Media and independent broadcaster Toplum TV, as well as the detention of 2014 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize laureate Anar Mammadli.

Pace also condemned "treason" convictions against independent researchers Iqbal Abilov and Bahruz Samadov over their academic contacts with Armenian colleagues, and expressed shock at allegations of sexual harassment against nine detained female journalists.

Tensions between Baku and European human rights bodies have escalated since Azerbaijan's voting rights in Pace were suspended in 2024 over its human rights record.

In response, Baku suspended cooperation with the assembly and refused to present its credentials to the body for both 2025 and 2026.

Fazil Mustafa, another Azerbaijani MP, said European institutions were harming their own credibility by prioritizing "confrontational rhetoric" over objective dialogue.

"Unobjective decisions do not and will not determine Azerbaijani policy," Mr Mustafa said.

However, opposition figures inside the country rejected the government's dismissive stance, arguing that Azerbaijan remains bound by its treaty obligations as a Council of Europe member.

Elman Fattah, co-founder of the pro-democracy III Republic Platform, said the resolution's findings were undeniable.

"While President Ilham Aliyev feels strong now, the impact of these resolutions will be felt if his position weakens in the future," Mr Fattah told.

The assembly has called on the Council of Europe's Secretary General to trigger Article 52 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which would force Baku to formally explain how its domestic laws protect fundamental freedoms.