Azerbaijan refutes EU's human rights claims as "far from reality"

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry completely rejects the biased statement on the state of human rights in Azerbaijan made by European Commission Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano.

The remarks were made by the Ministry’s Spokesman Aykhan Hajizada, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Ministry’s press service.

“We totally reject a biased and unacceptable statement by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union (EU) dated 29 May, 2024,” he said.

According to him, the rhetoric of the EU statement is full of blatant falsifications that are detached from reality about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. 

“People detained due to certain criminal investigation, such as illegal funding of certain activities, illegal financial transactions and etc. are subject to the requirements of the relevant laws on penal regimes. Instead of waiting for the results of criminal cases and investigations, as well as court rulings, call on Azerbaijan to release suspects is in open contradiction with legal procedures,” the spokesman said. 

“Moreover, claims about deprivation of detained people of medical and other assistance have no grounds. All the people that the EU side refers to are subject to necessary assistance in the manner and to the extent specified by law.

The groundless public demands of the EU to pardon certain individuals on the basis of political preferences of certain European governments and politicians cast doubt on Europe's true commitment to the rule of law.

Azerbaijan has enough experience, knowledge and wisdom, and does not need imposing advice and prescriptions.

In the same line, conditioning of Azerbaijan’s presidency of COP29 with inappropriate political motivation contradicts the very essence of idea of cooperation addressing climate change that Azerbaijan has undertaken. 

Azerbaijan will continue to comply with its international legal obligations, and urges certain EU institutions to focus on gross violations of human rights in the EU area, and cease its interference and provocations against Azerbaijan,” Hajizada said.