Von der Leyen's visit to Baku is being prepared amid demands to respect human rights.

Azerbaijani political émigrés and human rights activists sent an appeal to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of her visit to Baku, calling for the inclusion of issues of political prisoners, media freedom, and the situation of civil society in the agenda of negotiations with the Azerbaijani leadership.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, Azerbaijan and the European Union held talks in Baku on June 2-3 on a draft new comprehensive agreement and a document on Partnership Priorities for 2026-2030. Analysts linked the intensification of negotiations to Azerbaijan's increased importance to the EU in the areas of energy and transport logistics, but note the absence of references to human rights violations in official Brussels statements.

The Coordination Center of Azerbaijani Political Exiles in Europe sent an appeal to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of her visit to Azerbaijan scheduled for July 1. The authors of the appeal emphasize their support for the development of dialogue and cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan, including in the areas of energy security and the Europe-Asia transport corridor (Middle Corridor). They believe that Azerbaijan plays an important role as a strategic partner for the EU. At the same time, the signatories believe that a sustainable partnership should not be limited to economic cooperation and should take into account issues of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The authors of the appeal point to "the deterioration of the functioning of democratic institutions in recent years."

"Reactionary laws are being passed through a falsified parliament, resulting in independent media, civil society organizations, and political parties being effectively completely taken under control. The activities of all independent media structures have been suspended in Azerbaijan; The editorial staffs of media outlets such as Abzas Media, Toplum TV, and Meydan TV have been completely arrested. Dozens of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society activists, as well as the leader of the main opposition party, the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFA), Ali Karimli, are subject to constant repression, with many party members arrested on trumped-up charges. Currently, more than 400 political prisoners are held in Azerbaijani prisons," the document, obtained by a Caucasian Knot correspondent, continues. The authors of the appeal claim that pressure on critics of the Azerbaijani authorities is occurring not only within the country but also abroad. The letter mentions attacks on Azerbaijani activists and opposition figures in Europe between 2020 and 2025, including the attempted murder of blogger Muhammad Mirzali in France.

The signatories call on Ursula von der Leyen to raise the issue of releasing political prisoners and lifting restrictions on independent media, political parties, and civil society organizations during her upcoming talks with the President of Azerbaijan.

The authors of the appeal believe that energy cooperation and regional projects should not replace discussions of the human rights situation.

"Include meetings with journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society representatives in the program."

Political prisoners held in Baku Correctional Facility No. 6 also sent an appeal to Ursula von der Leyen. They called on the President of the European Commission to include human rights issues in the agenda of negotiations with the Azerbaijani leadership. The authors of the appeal expressed hope that the European Union will call for the release of all political prisoners in the country and support steps to expand civil and political freedoms.

Furthermore, the appeal, shared with a Caucasian Knot correspondent by relatives of the prisoners, calls for the visit's agenda to include meetings with independent journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, and civil society representatives, who, according to them, continue to operate under difficult conditions. The letter's authors believe that such meetings would confirm the EU's commitment not only to economic partnership, but also to fundamental values—democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The appeal was signed by activists Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and Punhan Karimli, media manager Mohammed Kekalov, and four other prisoners: Jamil Guliyev, Anar Hasanov, Yashar Aghazade, and Gunduz Mirzoyev.

The EU Delegation to Azerbaijan confirmed Ursula von der Leyen's planned visit to Baku on July 1-2, stating that official announcements of her meetings in Baku will be distributed by the office of the President of the European Commission.

The topic of human rights is absent.

"Recently, the topic of human rights has been absent from official announcements of high-level talks between Azerbaijan and the EU. However, this doesn't mean it's not being addressed. Ursula von der Leyen will likely raise this issue in closed-door talks. However, since the EU currently has limited leverage over Baku, and instead is interested in deepening its partnership with Azerbaijan as a supplier of energy resources to Europe and a key link in the Middle Corridor, the importance of which has increased even more following the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, it's no longer possible to expect concrete results," said Togrul Juvarli, a member of the Azerbaijan National Public Committee on European Integration.