As the EU strengthens ties with Azerbaijan for energy security, journalists face severe repression.

Azerbaijan, under President Ilham Aliyev, has intensified its crackdown on independent journalism while securing energy partnerships with the EU. Despite the European Commission’s praise for Azerbaijan’s role in regional stability, at least 25 journalists remain imprisoned, many for exposing corruption within the government.

The EU’s focus on energy security has overshadowed human rights concerns, as high-level officials engage with Baku without addressing the plight of imprisoned journalists. This strategic oversight raises questions about the EU’s commitment to press freedom, especially as Azerbaijan ranks among the lowest in the world for media freedom.