During the meetings, it was noted that the news portal AbzasMedia, with the participation of organizations registered in these countries, was conducting illegal financial operations, and the embassies of the mentioned countries were involved in this activity, which caused serious outrage.
It was emphasized that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), FreedomNow, New Democracy Fund, and other organizations, violating the rules of grant provision, were illegally transferring financial resources to the territory of Azerbaijan and unlawfully contributing to the activities of AbzasMedia.
It was noted that according to the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan on grant activities and grant agreements, grant agreements are subject to state registration in accordance with the relevant procedure, and the allocation of funding to projects that have not undergone registration is a serious violation of the country’s legislation. In addition, in accordance with international practice and the law of the Republic of Azerbaijan ‘On Media’, it is not allowed to finance local media entities by physical or legal persons of foreign countries, as well as by state structures of foreign countries.
‘The actions of the embassies and organizations of the mentioned countries on the territory of our country, contrary to the mentioned legislation, also violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Azerbaijani side strongly condemns this activity, contrary to the legislation of our country and aimed at interfering in the internal affairs of the country, and informs that in connection with the mentioned facts, it reserves the right to take appropriate measures in accordance with national legislation,’ the Foreign Ministry’s statement said.
