The EU pointed to human rights issues in Azerbaijan.
The European Union, in its annual report, once again pointed to serious problems with human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan. In Brussels, they noted restrictions on civil society and independent media, ongoing issues regarding the independence of the judiciary, and non-implementation of ECHR decisions. The EU acknowledged specific steps taken by Baku in the areas of child protection, gender equality, and anti-corruption, emphasizing that their practical implementation remains uneven.