Ambassador Suleymanov sees double standards in West's reaction to Karabakh conflict

Elin Suleymanov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom, voiced strong criticism against what he perceived as "double standards" in international reactions to conflicts involving Azerbaijan.

In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Ambassador Suleymanov particularly pointed out the contrasting responses to the situation in Ukraine and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East compared to Azerbaijan's decades-long conflict with Armenia.

The Ambassador expressed his concerns about the inconsistency in global responses to these conflicts, highlighting the significant differences in reactions and support received.

He questioned why the international community seemed to apply varying standards, emphasising that each conflict had its unique context.

"Azerbaijan never crossed the border of Armenia. It all happened within the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We lost 200 soldiers plus several hundreds were wounded, and approximately the same number of Armenian militants died in Azerbaijan," Suleymanov said.

"Armenian sources say a maximum of 10 civilians were killed. That generated so much criticism [against us] from our Western partners. When Ukrainians are fighting for their territory, recognised territory, not only do they not get criticised, they also get supplied with weapons by the West. So, I think there's clearly a double standard."

The Azerbaijani Ambassador pointed out that his country does not view conflicts in religious terms and has strong relationships with various religious and cultural communities, including the Jewish and Christian communities. He emphasised the cultural similarities and historical connections between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Still, Suleymanov expressed his confusion at the different treatment his nation received compared to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.

He said: "When we talk about the positions of different states on all this, just look at what France is doing.

"France wants to discuss the horrible actions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as they described it. The reality is that with what's happening in the Middle East, they don't seem to be as concerned.