The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has sharply responded to recent criticisms made by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, and German MP Frank Schwabe, labeling their statements as biased and hypocritical.
In response to Peter Stano’s comments during an interview with Politico on August 23, where he expressed concerns over the detention of independent journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, the Head of the Press Service Department, Aykhan Hajizada, dismissed the allegations as unfounded. Hajizada emphasized that such detentions are carried out in strict accordance with Azerbaijan’s criminal procedural legislation and are fully transparent. He accused the EU of attempting to interfere with Azerbaijan’s judicial authority and applying double standards, especially given the EU’s silence on human rights violations within its own member states.
Regarding German MP Frank Schwabe’s remarks made during an interview with Radio Liberty on August 23, where he criticized Azerbaijan’s commitment to the values of the Council of Europe and questioned its decision not to invite PACE observers to the Milli Majlis elections, Hajizada did not hold back. He characterized Schwabe as a “biased, deceptive, and hypocritical” politician with connections to corruption and dubious business dealings. Hajizada pointed out that Schwabe’s concerns about Azerbaijan’s relations with Russia were ironic, considering Germany’s ongoing cooperation with Russian entities like Gazprom.
Hajizada further noted that Azerbaijan remains committed to its international obligations but will not tolerate one-sided and prejudiced approaches. He also warned that any individuals who voted against Azerbaijan’s delegation in PACE would be barred from entering the country until the delegation’s mandate is restored.
This latest exchange underscores the growing tension between Azerbaijan and some European institutions, as Baku continues to resist what it perceives as unwarranted external pressure and interference.