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Presence of bribery, corruption, and Islamophobia within European Parliament deals serious blow to its reputation-COMMENTARY

15 September 2026 22:11 (UTC +04:00)

Double standards regarding the Karabakh issue have exposed a serious problem within the international system, Zaur Ibrahimli, Chairman of the "Priority" Socio-Economic Research Center Public Unioj told APA.

Zaur Ibrahimli noted that the views expressed by President Ilham Aliyev while receiving participants of international conferences in Baku are of great importance for evaluating and reconsidering the system of international relations that had long surrounded the Karabakh conflict: "During the 30 years that Armenia kept Azerbaijani territories under occupation, a number of foreign forces were more interested in maintaining the existing status quo than in resolving the problem. In reality, this is not merely a matter of Armenia's military and political capabilities. One of the key factors enabling Armenia to pursue its policy of occupation was the attitude of certain states and international circles toward this process. Although the occupation of Azerbaijani lands remained on the international agenda for many years, no real or effective mechanisms were activated. Thus, the status quo effectively created a favorable environment for the continuation of the occupation."

Silence of international organizations

The political scientist noted that there was a significant gap between the documents adopted by international organizations—such as the UN and the OSCE—and actual political action: “There were UN resolutions affirming Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and the OSCE Minsk Group operated for many years. Yet, none of this put an end to Armenia’s occupation. This highlighted one of the most serious problems within the international relations system: the lack of political will to enforce decisions. In this regard, Azerbaijan’s restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty through its own military and political capabilities set a significant precedent. Azerbaijan demonstrated that the norms and principles of international law should not remain merely on paper. A state subjected to occupation can—and must—restore its territorial integrity. As President Ilham Aliyev emphasized, the Azerbaijani people themselves put an end to this injustice. This serves as a crucial message not only for Azerbaijan but also for the future of the international relations system.”

European Parliament’s Bias

Zaur Ibrahimli stated that the stance adopted by the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe—both during the Karabakh conflict and after Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity—raises serious questions: “The failure to apply significant political and economic pressure mechanisms against Armenia during its policy of occupation, contrasted with the introduction of harsher resolutions regarding Baku after Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, raises legitimate questions within our society. In particular, the hardening of the European institutions' attitude toward Azerbaijan shortly after the full restoration of our sovereignty has further reinforced the perception of double standards. This approach also undermines the credibility of certain European institutions as objective mediators and fair arbiters. The approach to the Karabakh issue in a number of resolutions adopted by the European Parliament against Azerbaijan was unacceptable. A review of the documents adopted by the European Parliament reveals that the issue is one of political bias rather than legal principles. This is precisely one of the reasons for the negative sentiment that has emerged within Azerbaijani society toward the European Parliament and individual European politicians. Discussions and allegations regarding bribery, corruption, Islamophobia, and double standards within this institution deals a serious blow to its reputation.”