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Author: Irina Roman

Statement by the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on the reported acts of intimidation against Azerbaijani civil society activists

Written by Irina Roman on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Azerbaijani civil society and exiled activists and journalists continue to defend fundamental rights despite operating in an increasingly repressive environment. Yet, they have long faced persistent threats, systematic pressure and acts of intimidation. Such unacceptable practices create a climate of fear within diaspora communities and aim to extend control beyond national borders. 

The Chair of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF), Lasha Tugushi, expresses deep concern over reports of alleged intimidation targeting Azerbaijani civil society organisations and human rights activists. A notable example is the incident allegedly occurred to Emin Huseynov, a member of the EaP CSF and independent Azerbaijani journalist, perpetrated by unidentified individuals in Geneva, after Mr. Huseynov sought to raise legitimate questions regarding the state of democracy and fundamental freedoms in the country during the Munich Security Conference. If confirmed, such actions would represent a disturbing example of transnational repression aimed at silencing critical voices beyond Azerbaijan’s borders.

Since 2015, Emin Huseynov has lived in exile in Switzerland after spending ten months at the Swiss Embassy in Baku due to fears of politically motivated detention linked to his work as Chair of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety. His case symbolises the severe constraints placed on independent media and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.

This latest episode serves as yet another reminder of the Azerbaijani authorities’ continued disregard for freedom of expression, independent journalism and political pluralism. The use of intimidation, surveillance, criminalisation and forced exile to silence critics reflects a broader pattern of repression that has driven many journalists and activists to seek safety abroad. 

In full solidarity with Emin Huseynov and with all Azerbaijani civil society activists, both within the country and abroad, the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum: 

  • Strongly condemns any acts of transnational repression against Azerbaijani human rights defenders and journalists,
  • Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately cease all forms of harassment, intimidation and politically motivated persecution of journalists, activists, and members of the political opposition, regardless of where they reside,
  • Calls on the European Union and its Member States to address transnational repression as a matter of urgency in their engagement with Azerbaijan and to ensure that protection mechanisms for exiled human rights defenders are strengthened. 

Moldova’s EU Integration – An analysis through the lens of the Eastern Partnership Index 

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On 26 February 2026, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation – Europe Office, in cooperation with the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, organised a discussion drawing on the 2021, 2023 and 2025 editions of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Index to examineMoldova’s EU integration trajectory. The presentation of the Eastern Partnership Index by Alexandra Sabou, Advocacy and EaP Index Manager, set the tone for a forward-looking and candid reflection on Moldova’s EU accession path. The Index was described as a valuable complement to the European Commission’s annual enlargement assessment reports, particularly for integrating civil society perspectives into the evaluation of reform progress.  

A key milestone on Moldova’s path was the catalytic effect of 2022. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reshaped the geopolitical environment, accelerating Moldova’s application process, the setting of conditionality and the overall pace of legislative alignment. Despite sustainedRussia’s interference during the referendum and the last elections, participants pointed to Moldova’s ability, backed by political will and international support, to push back destabilising narratives and advance democratic standards. Energy independence was also highlighted as a strategic achievement with far-reaching democratic implications, strengthening sovereignty and institutional autonomy. The country’s reform drive was characterised as proof that movement away from entrenched dependency structures as was the case in the energy sector is possible, even under acute pressure.  

At the same time, it was noted that certain dimensions of Moldova’s transformation are difficult for any index to fully capture. Likewise, the complexity of foreign interference, ranging from illicit financing to increasingly adaptive disinformation tactics, poses clear methodological challenges when assessing democratic performance and warrants a rethinking of traditional monitoring tools. For example, long-term influence operations are rarely fully captured by short-term election observation formats focused primarily on election-day procedures, leaving significant dimensions of democratic resilience outside conventional assessment frameworks.   

Looking ahead, the discussion underscored both urgency and opportunity. The accession process is entering a technically demanding phase, with benchmarks and clusters requiring sustained administrative capacity. Public administration reform was described as cross-cutting and critical to all other chapters. A substantial legislative workload lies ahead, making coordination, vigilance, and continued civil society engagement essential. 

Communication and trust-building emerged as equally important. While indexes and chapter negotiations guide the process, citizens, both in Moldova and across EU member states, respond to tangible outcomes. Delivering visible improvements and explaining their impact will be essential to maintaining support for enlargement. The overall message was one of determined momentum. Moldova’s EU integration path remains complex and exposed to pressure, but recent progress demonstrates resilience and institutional maturation. The current window of opportunity should be used decisively, embedding reforms in ways that make them sustainable and, ultimately, irreversible. 

In memoriam

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The civil society community of Armenia and the whole Eastern Partnership region has lost one of its most dedicated and compassionate human rights voices.

Edgar Khachatryan, National Facilitator of the Armenian National Platform and Steering Committee member of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum has passed away on 28 February 2026, leaving behind a profound sorrow.

As founder and director of Peace Dialogue NGO, Edgar worked tirelessly to promote peace, human rights, and reconciliation in Armenia and across the wider South Caucasus region. He brought together communities separated by conflict, gave a voice to those who were marginalised or silenced, and worked tirelessly to support the peace efforts through inclusive, forward-looking civil society engagement.

Beyond his professional achievements, Edgar will be remembered for his rare kindness and humanity, and an attentive presence that made everyone around him feel seen, heard, and understood. For those who had the privilege of knowing him, the time spent with Edgar meant honest conversations, shared laughter, and the comforting feeling that you were in the company of someone who genuinely cared.

Edgar’s passing leaves the peace-building community across the Eastern Partnership region poorer. Edgar’s legacy will continue to live on through the organisations he built, the initiatives he led, and the people he crossed paths with, colleagues, partners and peace builders he inspired and mentored.

Edgar’s legacy will never be forgotten. His work will continue, and the initiatives he inspired will only keep growing.

EaP CSF Statement – Condemnation on the Tragic Anniversary of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

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Brussels, 24 February 2026

We, the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continued full-scale aggression. 

Russia’s aggression is a direct assault on democracy, human rights, and the rules-based international order in Europe to redraw borders by force, undermine the foundations of European security, and normalise impunity for international crimes.

The ongoing invasion continues to inflict immense human suffering. Civilians are killed and injured daily. Millions remain internally displaced or have sought refuge abroad. Entire cities, towns, and villages have been devastated. Critical infrastructure—energy, water, healthcare, transport, and education systems—has been deliberately and systematically targeted. These consequences extend far beyond Ukraine’s borders, affecting economic stability, food security, and democratic resilience across the wider EU’s neighbourhood. Repeated strikes on power generation and transmission facilities have left countless households without electricity and heating during extremely harsh conditions—Ukrainian cities have been pushed to the brink of survival this winter. These actions constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law and reflect Russia’s intentional strategy to weaponise winter, terrorise civilians, and erode societal resilience.

Building on significant progress in reforms and European integration, Ukraine continues to strengthen its democratic institutions and align with EU standards. Despite relentless attacks, Ukrainian civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, volunteers, and local communities continue to provide humanitarian assistance, support displaced populations, document violations of international law, counter disinformation, and uphold democratic governance. Their work demonstrates that civil society remains both a humanitarian lifeline and a pillar of democratic accountability under wartime conditions.

We recall the Resolution of the EaP Civil Society Summit 2025, adopted at the EaP Civil Society Summit in Brussels on 2 December 2025, which highlighted the central role of Ukrainian civil society in sustaining resilience and democratic reform, and the importance of its meaningful participation in reconstruction and EU pre-accession processes.

We call upon the European Union, its Member States, and the international community to sustain and intensify comprehensive support for Ukraine, through:

  • Supporting Ukraine’s EU aspirations and its integration into the EU;
  • Continued and predictable military assistance enabling Ukraine to defend its population and territory;
  • Rapid restoration and protection of critical civilian infrastructure; as this winter ends, urgent adaptation of urban infrastructure is essential to ensure resilience and prevent systemic disruption this year and in the winter seasons ahead;
  • Financial and macroeconomic assistance to safeguard public institutions and essential services;
  • Long-term reconstruction funding grounded in transparency, anti-corruption safeguards, rule of law principles, and alignment with EU accession reforms;
  • Promoting the most just and durable peace for Ukraine in full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence;
  • Strong protection and flexible, multi-year funding for Ukrainian civil society organisations and independent media.

We call for enhanced cooperation between EU Member States, Ukrainian institutions and local authorities to invest in human capital to support community-based mental health services, rehabilitation, professional training, educational exchanges and measures to facilitate and support the safe return of Ukrainians to their homes once conditions allow. Preserving and restoring human capital has emerged as one of Ukraine’s key challenges during the war and post-war recovery period. Investing in human capital is a mean to rebuild communities, retain talent, and support veterans, women, youth, and displaced persons in returning to productive roles in society.  

We reaffirm our strong support for independent media and civil society organisations whose work in documenting atrocities, countering disinformation, and sustaining civic participation is indispensable for Ukraine’s democratic future and for informing the international community about the realities and consequences of the war. The current systematic attempts to silence independent voices and persecution of Ukrainian environmental activists and journalists reflects broader efforts by Russian authorities to intimidate independent reporting and civic engagement.

We reiterate our call for frozen Russian state assets to be directed towards Ukraine’s defence, humanitarian needs, reconstruction, and recovery in full compliance with international law and through transparent, accountable mechanisms. We also underline the necessity for EU Member States to fully discontinue the purchase of Russian energy resources.

 We call on the European Union and its Member States to urgently adopt the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, ensuring it remains robust and comprehensive, and to refrain from any unilateral actions that would delay or dilute the EU’s unified response. Sanctions remain a central instrument in constraining the Russian Federation’s capacity to wage war. 

We underscore the importance of continued and strengthened international efforts to ensure accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of aggression, and large-scale environmental destruction. Full cooperation with the International Criminal Court, the establishment of a special tribunal on the crime of aggression, and effective reparations and compensation mechanisms are indispensable for a durable peace, deterrence of future aggression, and restoration of justice.

The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum 

EaP CSF Statement on Ukraine 24.02.2026Download