Critics Slam Europe for Leniency Toward Azerbaijan Amid Russian Gas Concerns
When a young peace activist was sentenced to 15 years in prison for high treason in Azerbaijan last month, his friends' anger was primarily directed at the European Union rather than the government responsible for his imprisonment.
Bahruz Samadov, a 30-year-old PhD student, received one of the harshest sentences ever given to a critic of President Ilham Aliyev's 21-year rule. He denies the charge, calling it fabricated.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled Azerbaijan a "key partner" in the EU's efforts to reduce reliance on Russian natural gas.
During this period, Aliyev regained control of the breakaway Karabakh region, leading to the exodus of its entire Armenian population. He also secured a fifth consecutive term in an election criticized by monitors and cracked down on opposition and press freedom.
The European Parliament urged the EU last year to impose sanctions on Baku and end dependence on Azerbaijan's gas exports. However, top foreign policy officials have refrained from publicly criticizing Aliyev.
When Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, visited Baku in April, she faced criticism from Aliyev's opponents for highlighting the "great potential" for EU-Azerbaijan ties while numerous journalists were detained in Baku.
Aliyev has defended the arrest of journalists by citing the need to safeguard the media landscape from external negative influences, accusing reporters of unlawfully receiving foreign funding. He has also accused international organizations of bias and meddling in domestic politics, leading to the closure of several offices in Baku.
Eldar Mamedov, a former Latvian diplomat and foreign policy adviser, stated that EU policy has effectively given Aliyev "a free hand" and strained relations between Baku and Brussels due to repression and arrests of dissidents.
The EU has expressed concern over the shrinking civic space in Azerbaijan and called for the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals exercising their fundamental rights. The EU aims to diversify its gas sources to reduce dependence on a single supplier like Russia.
Despite Azerbaijan's modest 4.3% share in EU natural gas imports, some member states rely heavily on gas from Azerbaijan. This dependency complicates presenting a united front against Azerbaijan, according to a senior European diplomat.
The EU's strategy is to obtain gas from various locations to reduce reliance on Russia, while maintaining its stance on human rights issues in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev has supported Ukraine's territorial integrity amid Russia's invasion, enhancing his standing in Europe.
Azerbaijan's relations with Moscow have deteriorated following incidents such as a plane crash and the deaths of Azerbaijani citizens in Russian custody. By challenging Russia, Aliyev aims to assert a larger role in a region traditionally dominated by Moscow.
The EU has expressed concern over the imprisonment of seven Azerbaijani investigative journalists and called for measures to ensure a safe environment for journalists. Concerns have been raised over Bahruz Samadov's well-being after reports of a suicide attempt.