Belgian lawmaker calls for stronger actions, warns against 'soft' diplomacy towards Baku

Member of the Belgian Federal Parliament Michel De Maegd expressed concern in his speech during hearings in the House of Representatives on March 13 about the sham trials being held against Armenian prisoners in Baku and the danger to the lives of the prisoners.

According to the Armenpress Brussels correspondent, Michel De Maegd, addressing the Belgian Foreign Minister, drew attention to the fact that the Baku regime and dictator Aliyev ignore all international and humanitarian laws.

"Imagine that one day Belgium is invaded by a neighboring country, led by a dictator who, disregarding international and humanitarian law, forces all Belgians to flee to another country. And in the meantime, that dictator abducts you as Foreign Minister, keeps you in prison for months, tortures you, and tries you in a mock trial, in a language you don't even speak, accusing you of absurd charges.

"An incredible scenario, dear colleagues, you might say. But, Mr. Minister, that is exactly what is happening to your counterpart now," he said, detailing that an unlawful trial is underway in Baku against the former Foreign Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, Davit Babayan, whom Baku imprisoned after seizing Nagorno-Karabakh in a terrible war.

He emphasized that this aggression has been condemned by the International Court of Justice.

"Today marks 470 days since Baku has imprisoned 23 captives—your colleagues—the Minister of Defense, state ministers, as well as three former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh," said Michel De Maegd, assessing the EU's response to this to date as extremely weak.

"The response is weak because it needs Azerbaijani gas. This is endless hypocrisy because everyone knows that most of this gas comes from Russia, which is officially under embargo. And the culmination of all this is that COP 29 was organized right in Baku, without any attention to the tragedy of these prisoners of war. One of them, dear colleagues, is Ruben Vardanyan, a man of peace who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize last year. His life is in danger. The lives of 23 prisoners are in question before our eyes," the MP added.

Michel De Maegd noted that Belgian parliamentarians have been suspending relations with their Azerbaijani counterparts for months, calling on the Belgian government to use the levers at its disposal, especially to convince European partners to impose sanctions against Baku.

"I am concerned because, in the last few hours, I have met with several ambassadors from the region and many analysts. All signs show that Baku is preparing for a new war against Armenia. Azerbaijan is bringing in planes loaded with a large number of weapons from Israel. Now is not the time to delay or engage in 'soft' diplomacy. I am confident, Mr. Minister, that you will act. Because, as in Ukraine, here too, it is about our values," Michel De Maegd, a member of the Federal Parliament, concluded his speech, addressing the Belgian Foreign Minister.