This week saw a solidarity campaign for imprisoned Azerbaijani journalists took place in Germany, Azerbaijan did not send a delegation to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) winter session, and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan urged the release of 19 Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan to advance regional peace.
Support campaign for Azerbaijani journalists held in Passau, Germany
On 29 January, activists in Passau organized a public demonstration highlighting the plight of journalists imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Portraits of journalists behind bars were displayed along the city’s central streets, alongside placards reading, “Journalists are held hostage by the Azerbaijani government.”
The campaign is part of an ongoing international initiative across Europe aimed at drawing attention to restrictions on freedom of expression and media in Azerbaijan, as well as showing solidarity with imprisoned journalists. Organizers emphasized that similar rallies will continue in other European cities in the coming weeks.
Azerbaijan absent from PACE winter session amid ongoing tensions
The 2026 PACE winter session, running from 26–30 January, began without an Azerbaijani delegation. According to the Assembly’s official statements, Azerbaijan has not participated in PACE since losing its voting rights in 2024 due to human rights violations. In response, Baku suspended cooperation with the body and restricted access for lawmakers who voted in favor of the sanction.
President Ilham Aliyev reiterated this week in an interview with Euronews that Azerbaijan has not maintained direct relations with PACE or the European Parliament for years, though engagement with the European Commission continues.
The session’s first day also focused on new dialogue mechanisms with Russia. A dedicated platform of 10 members, including opposition politicians, human rights defenders, and representatives of Russia’s local communities, was approved to foster structured dialogue between Russian democratic forces and European parliamentarians. A number of European countries, including Germany, Spain, Hungary, Romania, and Cyprus, are participating, while Armenia’s deputy parliamentary speaker Ruben Rubinyan was elected as a PACE vice-president.
Mirzoyan urges Azerbaijan to release 19 Armenian detainees to support peace process
During the PACE session, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the importance of releasing 19 Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan for advancing bilateral normalization. Mirzoyan pointed to the historic peace developments of recent years, including the US-brokered Washington Peace Summit on 8 August 2025, where Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders signed a joint declaration affirming sovereignty and territorial integrity as pillars for long-term peace.
Mirzoyan noted that Azerbaijan recently released four Armenian detainees, a step that brings hope for the broader release of the remaining 19 individuals. He stressed that resolving the status of missing persons and ensuring continued cooperation would significantly contribute to the reconciliation process. Mirzoyan also thanked the Council of Europe for supporting normalization efforts and emphasized that Armenia remains committed to turning a new page in regional relations, relying on the backing of international partners.
The Armenian–Azerbaijani peace process continues to address the aftermath of more than three decades of conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. While Azerbaijan restored territorial control in 2023, sustained negotiations and prisoner releases are seen as critical steps toward durable stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus.
