PACE condemns Azerbaijan crackdown while Ukrainian MP defends ‘pragmatic’ approach

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a strongly worded resolution condemning the continuing crackdown on political opposition, independent media and civil society in Azerbaijan, following a debate titled “Silencing Critical Voices in Azerbaijan” during its summer session in late June.

The resolution, approved by an overwhelming majority, reflects growing concern among European lawmakers over what they describe as a systematic dismantling of democratic freedoms in the South Caucasus country. It points to the closure of independent media, the imprisonment of journalists and opposition activists, and the continued erosion of political pluralism.

According to speakers during the debate, around 40 journalists have been arrested, including eight women, while the number of political prisoners has reportedly risen to almost 400. Independent civil society organisations have faced arrests and increasing pressure, while political activity outside government control has effectively been criminalised.

PACE members also highlighted the case of Ali Karimli, leader of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, who is widely regarded as the country’s leading pro-Western opposition figure. Karimli was arrested in late 2025 on charges of attempting to overthrow President Ilham Aliyev’s government in collusion with Russia – allegations his supporters describe as politically motivated.

The debate marked another stage in the deteriorating relationship between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, whose Parliamentary Assembly has repeatedly criticised Baku’s human rights record.

A lone defence of Baku

While Turkish delegates were the only members to vote against the resolution, one speech attracted particular attention during the debate.

Oleksii Goncharenko, a Ukrainian MP from the opposition European Solidarity party of Petro Poroshenko and a member of Ukraine’s delegation to PACE, argued that Azerbaijan should be judged through the prism of its geopolitical environment rather than solely on its democratic record.

Goncharenko, who has represented Ukraine in PACE for several years and is known internationally for his outspoken criticism of Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, acknowledged concerns about democracy and human rights but argued that the Council of Europe should adopt what he described as a pragmatic approach.

According to his intervention, Azerbaijan’s location between Russia and Iran makes it a strategically important partner whose broader geopolitical orientation should take precedence.

Responding to questions from German Social Democratic MP Frank Schwabe, chair of the Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group in PACE, Goncharenko argued that maintaining Azerbaijan’s engagement with European institutions ultimately served the interests of Azerbaijani citizens.

His intervention stood in sharp contrast to the dominant mood in the Assembly, where speakers from several political groups argued that geopolitical considerations could not excuse persistent violations of fundamental rights.

Geography versus democratic standards

Much of the debate centred on whether strategic considerations should influence how European institutions assess democratic standards in neighbouring countries.

Several parliamentarians rejected the argument that Azerbaijan’s proximity to Russia and Iran could justify restrictions on political freedoms.

Schwabe argued that imprisoning hundreds of political opponents and reports of ill-treatment of detainees represented clear violations of the Council of Europe’s core principles rather than inevitable consequences of regional geopolitics.

Austrian parliamentarian Dominik Oberhofer also criticised attempts to soften the assessment of Azerbaijan’s record. Referring to previous corruption scandals involving the Assembly, he recalled that PACE had already experienced cases in which members presented an overly favourable picture of Azerbaijan after receiving illicit benefits.

The reference alluded to the so-called “caviar diplomacy” scandal, in which several European politicians were accused of accepting gifts or financial incentives in exchange for promoting Azerbaijan’s image within European institutions.

Following the debate, Goncharenko defended his position on social media, stating that although democracy and human rights remain important, Azerbaijan’s continued participation in the Council of Europe would ultimately benefit its citizens.

Azerbaijan’s record remains under scrutiny

The debate also reflected broader concerns over Azerbaijan’s democratic trajectory since joining the Council of Europe in 2001.

Critics argue that political freedoms, judicial independence, electoral standards and media pluralism have steadily deteriorated over the past two decades. International corruption investigations, including the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers, have also repeatedly linked members of Azerbaijan’s ruling elite to offshore financial structures, while anti-corruption organisations have long ranked the country among Europe’s poorest performers in governance and transparency.

The resolution does not address Azerbaijan’s membership of the Council of Europe itself. Instead, it focuses on the country’s compliance with commitments undertaken upon accession, including respect for freedom of expression, political pluralism and the rule of law.

The author Ganimat Zahid is editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Azadlig”, who publishes in exile. The article in Ukrainian with EUalive’s partner European Pravda can be found here.

Caption: Oleksii Goncharenko speaks during the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) debate on Azerbaijan in Strasbourg, 24 June 2026. Screenshot: pace.coe.int.