Baku: The Committee on Foreign and Interparliamentary Relations of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has sent a protest letter to the European Parliament regarding a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on March 13, 2025. “We express our strong objection to the unfounded, unobjective and biased resolution titled ‘Unlawful Detention and Sham Trials of Armenian Hostages’, adopted by the European Parliament on 13 March 2025,” the letter reads. It states that the resolution disregards principles of law and justice while failing to acknowledge Azerbaijan’s legitimate right to prosecute individuals involved in serious crimes.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the letter emphasizes that for nearly 30 years, Armenia occupied internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan, committing numerous war crimes against Azerbaijani civilians. It cites ethnic cleansing, severe human rights violations, and the systematic destruction of Azerbaijani heritage. The letter criticizes the European Parliament for consistently ignoring these atrocities, including the Khojali Genocide, where Armenian forces massacred 613 civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
The Azerbaijani Parliament asserts that after restoring territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, Azerbaijan has the legal right to hold accountable those responsible for grave offenses, including armed separatism and war crimes. The letter describes allegations in the European Parliament’s resolution, such as ‘a blockade’ and ‘ethnic cleansing’, as politically motivated distortions designed to shift attention from Armenia’s actions, which included the forcible displacement of 750,000 Azerbaijanis.
The letter also mentions the integration of the Garabagh Region into Azerbaijan’s constitutional framework, carried out in compliance with international law. It argues that the European Parliament’s calls for sanctions and diplomatic restrictions represent unwarranted interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs, which may undermine regional stability and peace prospects.
The protest letter reaffirms Azerbaijan’s commitment to justice, international law, and regional peace. It stresses that individuals being tried are not prisoners of war but criminals who violated Azerbaijani law and must face a fair judicial process. Finally, the letter urges the European Parliament to respect justice and sovereignty to achieve true stability in the South Caucasus.