Human rights body defends Azerbaijan’s legal record after European Parliament vote

The human rights organisation Magen David Azerbaijan has issued an official legal response to the latest European Parliament resolution on Azerbaijan dated December 18, 2025.

According to domestic media, citing David Seliverstov, chairman of the Magen David Azerbaijan, a society for the protection of human rights and charity, the organisation considered it necessary to provide a point-by-point legal response to European Parliament Resolution P10_TA(2025)0339.

Seliverstov said that Magen David Azerbaijan, acting within the framework of national and international law and while respecting the institutions of the European Union and the European Parliament, based its response on the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the rule of law, the permissible limits of international monitoring, and the balance between human rights and national security as recognized in both Azerbaijani and European legal systems.

According to him, after analysing the adopted European Parliament resolution, Magen David Azerbaijan concluded that Azerbaijan is acting within the bounds of its national legislation and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The organisation stated in its response that the European Parliament’s claim of “nearly 400 political prisoners” is not supported by judicial decisions of international bodies or by official lists recognised by the European Court of Human Rights.

“Conducting closed court hearings complies with both national and European law in cases where proceedings involve issues of national security,” the legal response presented by Seliverstov states.

Magen David Azerbaijan emphasised that the use of national security provisions is permitted under the European Convention on Human Rights and is applied across all EU member states, including France, Germany, and Spain, noting that Azerbaijan applies comparable standards.

“Condemnation by a political body (the European Parliament) cannot substitute for judicial review and does not have binding legal force. Allegations of legislative non-compliance are declarative in nature. Azerbaijan is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, implements judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, and regularly amends its legislation. Azerbaijan also takes note of European Parliament resolutions while retaining its sovereign right to legal assessment and response,” the organisation said.

Magen David Azerbaijan also underlined that Azerbaijan does not obstruct diplomatic monitoring, provided that national legislation is respected and sovereignty and procedural frameworks are observed.

In addition, the organisation stated that civil society in Azerbaijan operates within the law and that support for it is possible without politicisation or interference.

“Human rights must not be used as an instrument of political pressure. The Republic of Azerbaijan acts within both its domestic legislation and the European Convention on Human Rights,” Magen David Azerbaijan concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova