Azerbaijan severs ties with European Parliament amid rising tensions
Azerbaijan’s parliament has voted to suspend all cooperation with the European Parliament. The decision follows years of mounting tensions, with officials accusing Brussels of persistent bias. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova described the move as a response to what she called 'hostile activities' against the country. The Milli Majlis approved the suspension on 1 May, marking one of the most severe institutional breaks between Baku and the European Parliament in recent times. A special commission, led by former deputy speaker Ziyafat Askerov, recommended the measure after reviewing relations.
The decision comes shortly after the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 30 April that criticised Azerbaijan. Gafarova claimed the body had shown no sign of abandoning its alleged bias over the past decade. She also pointed to recent reports by *Minval Politika*, which accused European officials of attempting to shape policy against Baku. In addition to suspending ties, the Milli Majlis will now begin procedures to withdraw from the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. Relations had previously been frozen and later restored in September 2016, following similar disputes.
The suspension cuts off all formal cooperation between the two legislative bodies. It reflects ongoing friction over Azerbaijan’s territorial policies and the European Parliament’s stance on the country. The next steps will include formalising the exit from Euronest, further isolating Baku from European parliamentary structures.
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