Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Parliament approved three resolutions linked to the respect for human rights in Crimea, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan on 19 Dec 2024.
On 19 Dec 2024, the European Parliament condemned human rights violations in Crimea, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, urging non-recognition of Crimea’s annexation, an end to repression in Kyrgyzstan, and sanctions on Azerbaijan’s human rights violators.
How did MEPs denounce human rights violations in Crimea?
Regarding the worsening human rights situation in occupied Crimea, the MEPs condemned the unlawful occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by Moscow, in the 11th year of the illegal annexation. MEPs expressed that Crimeans undergo critical human rights violations, with Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians and other ethnic minorities specifically pointed out.
MEPs also urged the international community to persist in its approach of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and the bossing of sanctions against persons and legal entities engaged in the illegal annexation.
How did the EU Parliament condemn Kyrgyzstan’s illegal activities?
Concerning democratic decline in Kyrgyzstan, including the arbitrary arrest of opposition leader Temirlan Sultanbekov, MEPs raised concerns regarding the Kyrgyzstan government’s raids on freedom of expression, media freedom and oppression of political opposition, which includes detentions of reporters, bloggers and civil society bodies, and most significantly the arbitrary detention of opposition leader Temirlan Sultanbekov.
MEPs called the Kyrgyz administration to abandon its “false information law” as well as its regulation on “Foreign Representatives,” and urged that the Kyrgyz authorities not help the Russian Federation in bypassing sanctions levied on Moscow.
What concerns did MEPs raise regarding Azerbaijan?
European Parliament condemned continuing human rights offences in the country and insisted the Azerbaijani authorities finish the crackdown on all dissenting groups immediately. MEPs urged the unconditional discharge of human rights defenders, reporters and political advocates charged under fabricated, politically inspired charges.
MEPs urged Azerbaijan must also withdraw restrictions on autonomous media and terminate the repression of Toplum TV, Meydan TV, Abaz Media and Kanal 13. MEPs also called for EU sanctions to be set on officials accountable for serious human rights breaches. They urge any EU-Azerbaijan cooperation contract, including on energy, must be extremely dependent on the respect for fundamental rights and the freedom of all political prisoners.
