Catarina Vieira, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, dear colleagues, over the past few years we've seen in many debates here the ongoing repression that civil society has faced in Azerbaijan. But I'm really shocked to see it unfolding at this very moment and with consequences for this very House. The European Parliament elected Mr Gubad Ibadoghlu as a Sakharov finalist. So yesterday his peers were here and they were here in person to accept this honour. But he was not because his travel ban was not lifted. In house arrest, his internet connection was eventually cut off, stopping him from having an online intervention in meetings of political groups. His family was threatened – if he would speak, things would happen. We so often speak in big terms about third countries' undue influence in the EU, and rightfully so, but rarely do we see this meddling happening right in front of our eyes, like we see right here and right now.

I urge our presidents to take resolute action to protect Dr Ibadoghlu. I urge Member States to finally prioritise the horrendous human rights situation in their relationships with Baku, and I urge the Commission to suspend the MoU in the field of energy. Enough impunity – if we are serious about protecting democracy we need to act now.