Jailed Azerbaijan activists urge EU chief to raise human rights

Jailed political activists in Azerbaijan have urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to put human rights at the centre of her talks during a visit to the country on 1 July.

The appeal was made in an open letter written from prison by a group of detainees, including the prominent anti-corruption activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.

While welcoming growing cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan in energy and transport, the writers warned that a long-term partnership must not be built solely on strategic interests.

"Respect for human rights, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms must be one of the inseparable and main pillars of this cooperation," the letter said.

The activists called on the EU to make a "clear and principled" demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in the South Caucasus nation.

They also requested that Mrs von der Leyen break with the pattern of previous high-level visits by including independent journalists, bloggers, and civil rights defenders in her official itinerary.

Such meetings would show the EU's commitment to democratic values and provide "important moral support" to those working under difficult and risky conditions, the letter added.

Azerbaijan, which has become an increasingly important energy partner for Europe, has faced persistent criticism from international rights watchdogs over its treatment of independent media, civil society, and political opposition.

Government officials in Baku have previously denied holding political prisoners, maintaining that those in detention have been prosecuted for specific criminal offences.