European Parliament debated on 12 May the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan and adopted a resolution expressing deep concern over the increasing harassment and violence against civil society and journalists.[:]

The resolution deplores the arrest of around 200 people prior to the anti-government protests of 2 April in Baku and calls on the authorities to release all members of the opposition, youth activists and bloggers remaining in custody after the demonstrations of 11 March and 2 and 17 April.

Moreover, the resolution calls on the Government to respect the international conventions that it has ratified by respecting freedom of expression and to allow peaceful protest and freedom of assembly.

Chairwoman Hautala recalled that since July 2010, negotiations have been launched on an EU-Azerbaijan Association Agreement, covering a wide range on areas, such as human rights, justice and freedom. “Without respect for these principles, Azerbaijan can have no common future with its European partners,” she emphasised.