EU Parliament members call on Azerbaijan to release Armenian prisoners

MEPs, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights Munir Saturi, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the South Caucasus Nils Ushakovs, Permanent Rapporteurs on Armenia and Azerbaijan Miriam Lexman and Dan Barna issued a joint statement condemning the February 5 verdict of the Baku Military Court in the cases of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan, warning that it could damage the fragile but positive atmosphere of peace emerging in the South Caucasus.

According to an Armenpress correspondent in Brussels , the deputies noted with deep regret the verdicts handed down in the Baku court, emphasizing that they also include five life sentences.

The joint statement emphasizes that these judicial developments are taking place at a sensitive stage, when over the past year there have been some signs of peace and trust in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. The deputies recall that on August 8, 2025, the parties announced progress in Washington and initialed the text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations.

They also commemorate the release in January 2026 of four Armenians who had been held captive in Azerbaijan since 2020 and 2023, and highlight some steps in practical cooperation, including the transit of cargo from Azerbaijani territory to Armenia.

The authors of the statement also draw attention to the international symbolic circumstance, noting that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan were awarded the 2026 Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity for their consistent efforts to promote peace.

In this context, MEPs call on Azerbaijan to build on the current positive momentum and release all Armenian prisoners under Azerbaijani control, describing this as a significant gesture of goodwill and another important step towards sustainable peace in the South Caucasus.