Europe Accused of Going Soft on Azerbaijan Over Gas
Critics allege that Europe’s rapprochement with Azerbaijan in sourcing natural gas is driven more by a desire to avoid purchasing Russian gas than a genuine shift toward ethical or strategic independence. Some argue it effectively masks continued dependence on Russian hydrocarbons. What We Found The EU’s outgoing energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, recently warned against schemes rebranding Russian gas as Azerbaijani to circumvent end-2024 supply cuts through Ukraine—especially benefiting Hungary and Slovakia. Analysts and NGO reports highlight that the only Azerbaijani gas field supplying Europe, Shah Deniz, is partly owned by Russia’s Lukoil. Critics assert that some gas entering the EU may be Russian in origin, merely relabeled in a geopolitical shell game. Human rights organizations and lawmakers have condemned Europe for overlooking Baku’s authoritarian governance record—including corruption scandals and repression—to secure energy supply. NGOs and investigative groups also flag the […]