Members of the European Parliament (EP), at a plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday, adopted a legally non-binding resolution calling on the EU to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan due to the events in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as to reconsider the development of cooperation and reduce dependence on imports of Azerbaijani gas.  RIA Novosti writes.

The resolution was supported by 491 deputies, nine voted against, and 36 abstained. European Parliament resolutions on foreign policy issues are not legally binding, but other European institutions must listen to the opinions of MEPs. The document, in particular, states that “the European Parliament calls on the EU and member states to introduce targeted sanctions against individuals in the Azerbaijani government responsible for numerous ceasefire violations and human rights violations in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The MPs call on “the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy to suspend negotiations on updating the partnership agreement with Azerbaijan until Azerbaijan demonstrates a genuine willingness to respect the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.” Otherwise, MPs “call on the EU and member states to consider suspending the application of the agreement on visa facilitation and reducing the level of cooperation with this country in other areas.”