Europe accused of going soft on Azerbaijan to avoid buying Russian gas
The
European Union
has been accused of prioritizing its relationship with Azerbaijan to avoid purchasing Russian gas.European policymakers have been criticized for their
soft approach
to human rights violations and elections in Azerbaijan, which some say may be undermining the country's potential as areliable energy partner.
Leaders in Europe face pressure to diversify their energy supplies away from Russia, but critics say their approach to Azerbaijan isn't helping. Some believe that Europe is letting human rights concerns take a back seat to energy security, potentially undermining its own democratic values.
"The European Union needs to realize that turning a blind eye to corruption and vote-rigging in Azerbaijan is not a small price to pay for
energy diversification," one analyst said.
"Rather than genuinely supporting democratic reform, the EU is
prioritizing short-term energy interests
andgiving a green light to Azerbaijan's bad behavior
."This critical perspective has been gaining traction in recent weeks, raising questions about Europe's approach to its relationships with both Azerbaijan and Russia.
