Azerbaijan delivers formal protest to Moscow over Russian lawmaker's comments

On February 6, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Mikhail Evdokimov, Ambassador of Russia to the country, in response to remarks made by a senior Russian official.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued an official statement regarding the meeting. During the summons, the ministry lodged a strong protest and formally handed over a diplomatic note, Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

The action was taken in response to a statement made on February 5 by Konstantin Zatulin, first deputy Chairman of the Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma, and a member of the ruling United Russia party. Zatulin’s remarks pertained to the sentences handed down by Azerbaijan to Armenian citizens.

“Azerbaijan has firmly condemned Zatulin’s longstanding opposition to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, his open support for separatism, and his attempts to misrepresent judicial rulings concerning Armenian citizens convicted of crimes against peace and humanity, as well as war crimes arising from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan. The ministry also criticized his use of unacceptable rhetoric. During the meeting, Azerbaijan called on the Russian authorities to take decisive action to halt the destructive activities of Zatulin and others like him, whose actions undermine regional peace and stability and strain bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

By Vafa Guliyeva