Azerbaijan condemns burning of Turkish flag during event in Yerevan

Azerbaijan has strongly condemned the burning of the Turkish flag during a “torchlight procession” held in Yerevan on April 23.

In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly condemn[s] the burning of Türkiye’s flag during the 'torchlight procession' in Iravan, Armenia’s capital, on 23 April," Caliber.Az cites the ministry. 

The ministry also criticised the Armenian authorities, saying: “The government of Armenia should have prevented such a campaign, embodied in ethnic hatred, and should have taken appropriate security measures on time.”

It added: “It is completely unacceptable to turn a blind eye to such unacceptable acts under the pretext of democratic norms, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression.”

Describing the incident as a “clear manifestation of a revanchist and ethnic hatred-based fascist mindset in Armenia,” the statement called for international condemnation and prevention of similar acts.

“Such acts, which are a clear manifestation of a revanchist and ethnic hatred-based fascist mindset in Armenia, should be condemned and prevented at the international level,” the ministry said.

Azerbaijan urged the Armenian government to identify and hold those responsible accountable.

By Sabina Mammadli