Voorzitter Europarlement Buzek verheugd over vrijlating gewetensgevangenen Armenië en Azerbeidzjan (en)

The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek i welcomes the news of the release of Sasun Mikaelyan and Nikol Pashinyan in Armenia and of the journalist Eynulla Fatullayev in Azerbaijan.

President Buzek said: "I welcome the decision of the Armenian Parliament and the Azeri President to release prisoners of conscience. This is certainly a step in the right direction. I hope that the dialogue and openness for freedom of expression, media pluralism and constructive engagement with the opposition and civil society will be further strengthened. I still remain gravely concerned about the recent prison sentence of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, a young Azeri blogger.

My very recent visit to the South Caucasus was a great opportunity to intensify dialogue and I could make the European Parliament's position clear on the essential subjects of human rights and democracy. During our open and fruitful exchanges I emphasized the important potential of our relationship, as part of our reinvigorated Eastern Partnership."