Written question asked by Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party) on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 January 2026 (named day). It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 January 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Azerbaijan: Armenia

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support civil society engagement in (a) Armenia and (b) Azerbaijan.

Answer: The UK Government hugely values the role of civil society in the South Caucasus, and supports their work in Armenia and Azerbaijan through both diplomatic engagement and programming. We engage with organisations focused on peace, security, democracy, equality, and inclusion, and work with representative groups to strengthen civil society's role in both countries' development and stability. We also support efforts by Armenian and Azerbaijani think tanks to foster dialogue, building trust ahead of a hoped‑for historic peace agreement. During my visit to Baku and Yerevan in August 2025, I met civil society representatives to discuss key issues and reaffirm the UK's commitment to supporting civil society across the region. We regularly raise the importance of maintaining civil society space and rights.

Secondary information