Azerbaijan rejects France’s allegations over “arbitrary detention and unfair trial”

Azerbaijan has rejected France’s justification for a travel warning issued for Azerbaijan, calling allegations of “risks of arbitrary detention and unfair trial” unacceptable.

Aykhan Hajizada, head of the Press Service Department of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks on September 18 in response to a statement issued the previous day by the Spokesperson of France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

“We firmly condemn and reject” the attempt to justify the travel warning by citing such risks, Hajizada said.

He argued that portraying court proceedings in individual criminal cases in Azerbaijan as politically motivated was unacceptable, stressing that the proceedings were conducted in accordance with Azerbaijani legislation.

“Attempts to interfere in Azerbaijan’s judicial system are unacceptable,” Hajizada said.

He also criticised France over what he described as shortcomings in its own law enforcement and penitentiary systems, as well as “violations of international law” and practices involving racism, discrimination and restrictions on human rights.

Hajizada called on the French side to refrain from what he termed “groundless and biased allegations” against Azerbaijan and to respect the country’s sovereignty and internal affairs.

He further urged France to end approaches that, in Baku’s view, damage bilateral relations.

By Vugar Khalilov