"PACE is a harbour for snooty chairwarmers who need a victim" Six expert opinions for Caliber.Az

Baku froze its cooperation with PACE, considering the intolerable atmosphere of racism, Azerbaijanophobia and Islamophobia created in this structure. In return, PACE refused to ratify the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation.

How is this going to affect Azerbaijan? Why did the PACE turn its back on our country? What comes next? Caliber.Az addressed foreign experts with these questions.

Aleksey Nezhivoy, head of the Laboratory of Political and Social Technologies of the Russian Federation, believes that Azerbaijan's decision to freeze cooperation with PACE is absolutely correct.

"This structure in its current form is already a loser, it is not in line with the interests of the peoples of Europe. The interests of the globalist filth, trying to keep its head above water, are at the centre of this. Azerbaijan is doing well economically. All is well with the vector of development and allies. Against the background of the conflict in the Middle East, panic has grown in the West, which cannot and must not treat the rest of the planet as 'barbarians' for the purpose of robbery and enslavement. Together with Russia and Africa, the Islamic world is throwing down the gauntlet to the West.

But the weak Armenian elite, which led Armenia to disaster, is becoming a toy in the hands of the Western elite, which is losing world power and the thread of reality in general, and is preparing the Armenian people for the fate of Ukraine," Nezhivoy said.

For his part, Dmitry Solonnikov, director of the Russian Institute of Modern State Development, is of the opinion that Azerbaijan's decision on cooperation with the PACE is well-balanced.

"I think that the decision of Azerbaijan is the right one. Incidentally, Russia's position on PACE is similar. It is impossible to allow external actors, i.e. international organisations, to humiliate sovereign states and undermine the dignity of those who represent them. Therefore, in this case, PACE is a loser, because, unlike Azerbaijan, it suffers a reduction in its opportunities and a loss of image and reputation. And the manifested factor of Islamophobia will further contribute to the reduction of PACE's international opportunities," Solonnikov said.

Alexander Kobrinsky, a doctor of historical sciences and director of the Russian Agency for Ethno-National Strategies, shares this view.

"In the current situation, Azerbaijan's decision is appropriate. Baku will definitely not lose. PACE is an empty organisation and a shelter for European snooty chairwarmers who always need a victim. If anyone enjoys being the victim of jackals, it is certainly not Azerbaijan. Without a victim, PACE will not exist for a long time.

Russia has long suspended its activities in this organisation, which was created to control and suppress free and proud nations," Kobrinsky said.

According to Ukrainian think-tank president Oleksandr Okhrimenko, the PACE example shows that it is unacceptable for international organisations to become lobbyists for individual countries' interests.

"Azerbaijan did the right thing by taking a tough stance. Now PACE needs to think about changing and becoming a truly international organisation that can be reckoned with all over the world. It is necessary to change the methods and style of work of PACE, and not only them. The world has changed, so new international organisations and a new approach are needed," Okhrimenko said.

Nurlan Munbayev, a Kazakh professor of econometrics and a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, believes that PACE could suffer political losses by losing the confidence of Azerbaijan or other member states.

"I admit that in the future Azerbaijan may face international criticism and sanctions from PACE and other countries that disagree with its actions. However, the final results will depend on further diplomatic work and the reaction of the international community. Relations between Azerbaijan and the PACE have always been quite strained.

On the one hand, PACE loses one of its members who has contributed to cooperation and dialogue within the Council of Europe. On the other hand, Azerbaijan loses the opportunity to defend its interests and positions in PACE. I would not rule out that in the future both sides could find ways to restore trust and cooperation, if they are ready for dialogue and compromise. But for now, the situation looks tense and uncertain. And all the more so because, on some human rights issues, Azerbaijan has actually received criticism rather than support from PACE. I think it would be right if PACE respected the laws and principles of international diplomacy in order to find compromise solutions with states like Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which are not only able to actively cooperate with European organisations, but also to defend their political priorities and national interests," Munbayev said.

Shota Apkhaidze, a Georgian political scientist, expert at the Financial University of the Russian Federation and director of the Caucasus-Georgia Centre for Islamic Studies, believes that Azerbaijan's membership in or withdrawal from PACE is not of fundamental importance.

"On the contrary, it is PACE that will be the loser in the event of Azerbaijan's withdrawal from this structure. First, because PACE is a nominal organisation whose decisions are recommendatory. Secondly, because Azerbaijan is a leading country in the South Caucasus, which Europe would benefit from working with," Apkhaidze said, adding that Western policy is mainly aimed at destabilising the region.