Azerbaijan condemns France's "baseless" travel warning in sharp rebuttal

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned a travel warning issued by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, calling it a baseless attempt to damage relations between the two countries.

The travel advisory, which warns French citizens against visiting Azerbaijan, has been labeled as "unfounded and biased" by Azerbaijani officials, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

In a statement issued on September 4, Aykhan Hajizada, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, criticized France's actions, accusing the country of distorting reality. "We strongly condemn the severe travel warning for Azerbaijan issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, referring to unfounded claims that French people have been allegedly detained and targeted in Azerbaijan," Hajizada stated.

Hajizada emphasized that the French allegations of unjust detentions are without merit, specifically addressing the cases of two French citizens, Martin Ryan and Clerk Tego Hugo, who were detained in Azerbaijan. "So far, only one citizen of the French Republic, Martin Ryan, has been detained in Azerbaijan on suspicion of committing an act (espionage) prohibited by Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Furthermore, it is well-known that another French citizen, Clerk Tego Hugo, has been detained for an act committed in the Baku Metro," Hajizada clarified.

The Azerbaijani official also pointed to what he described as hypocrisy in France's stance on human rights, accusing the French government of violating international law and engaging in a "neocolonial policy" that contradicts the values it promotes. "Everyone is well aware of international law violations, neocolonial policy, racist, discriminatory, and Islamophobic activities, and human rights restrictions of France," he said, adding that France's attempts to lecture Azerbaijan on democracy are misguided.

Hajizada concluded his remarks with a demand for France to cease what he described as a smear campaign against Azerbaijan. "We once again demand France to stop the smear campaign against Azerbaijan," he asserted.