You are currently viewing The EAFJD commends Christophe Lacroix for standing up for human rights and denouncing the violent crackdown on dissent in Azerbaijan
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Member of the Chamber of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Belgium, Christophe Lacroix (PS) remains defiant and reaffirms his commitment to exercise his right to advocate for human rights and freedom and defend the rights of journalists in Azerbaijan and for accountability for the crimes committed by the dictatorship against Armenians.

Lacroix has been declared persona non grata by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, along with his colleague in the Belgian Parliament Karin Brouwers and 74 other members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), because of their support for a resolution to suspend the voting rights of the Azerbaijani delegation at the Council.

  This condemnation follows Lacroix’s continued advocacy for freedom of expression and defense of human rights directed at the authoritarian abuses of Azerbaijan in repressing journalists, cracking down on dissent and the recent wave of imprisonment of many journalist and political activists in the country. Many of the detainees were subjected to “torture and abuse”. Accordingly, on the 13th of November 2024, Lacroix and other members of the Socialist Party submitted a resolution in the lower house of the Belgian Federal Parliament relating to freedom of expression and the protection of journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan”. The resolution also mentions the violations directed at Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and how the Azerbaijani authorities have utilized the ongoing crisis as a pretext to increase authoritarian measures in the country.

During parliamentary proceedings on 15th of January of this year, Lacroix decried the decision as an “Unjustified conviction” and an “attack on freedom of expression and parliamentary engagement”. During the same session, he reiterated his support for human rights, freedom of expression and for the victims of the repressive measures of the Aliyev regime. He also condemned Azerbaijan for its atrocities committed against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and called for durable and real solutions to the crisis in the region that require respecting human rights and international norms.  In his speech Lacroix stated,

“It is an honor for me to be declared persona non grata by this corrupt and dictatorial regime, one of the worst in the region”.

The EAFJD fully supports the parliamentarian and commends him for standing his ground and denouncing the serious abuse of human rights of the repressive regime in Baku.