Citizens are calling on the European Parliament to ensure that academic Igbal Abilov’s detention and court case in Azerbaijan proceed according to internationally recognised standards of due process.
Igbal Abilov is a lecturer at the Belarusian State University and conducts research into the history and culture of the Talysh people. Azerbaijani authorities have detained him since he travelled to the country in August 2024, to visit relatives.
Many citizens have written to the President of the European Parliament on this subject since May 2025. We replied to those who took the time to write to the President:
Main elements of our reply
The European Parliament has called on Azerbaijan to release Igbal Abilov and all political prisoners. In a resolution adopted in October 2024, the European Parliament strongly condemns the Azerbaijani regime’s repression and its arbitrary detention of Igbal Azilov and others. It urges the country to release all those detained because of their views.
Parliament calls on European Union (EU) leaders to address the country’s human rights record in their relations with Azerbaijan. It underlines that these relations are based on respect for democracy and human rights, which Azerbaijan is systematically violating.
The European Parliament also demands that EU sanctions be imposed on Azerbaijani officials who have committed serious human rights violations and that the EU Special Representative for Human Rights request meetings with political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
Parliament insists that Azerbaijan must release all political prisoners before a new partnership agreement with the EU can be concluded.
A press release about this resolution is available on Parliament’s website.
In addition, Parliament adopted resolutions on human rights violations by Azerbaijan in April 2024, December 2024 and March 2025.
While the European Parliament takes political positions on developments in the world, it is not directly involved in deciding the EU’s foreign policy or imposing sanctions.
The governments of EU countries decide the EU’s common foreign and security policy in the European Council (where heads of government are gathered) and the Council of the EU (foreign ministers). Likewise, the EU imposes sanctions by unanimous decision in the Council of the EU.
Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.
The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit provides information on the activities, powers and organisation of the European Parliament. You ask, we answer.