Western Azerbaijan Community slams Council of Europe official for double standards on human rights

The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a strong statement urging Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe High Commissioner for Human Rights, to refrain from adopting a double standard approach when addressing human rights issues.

The comments came in response to O'Flaherty's statements during his interaction with Armenian MPs at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Caliber.Az reports.

According to the Community, O'Flaherty’s remarks on the return of Armenians to Azerbaijan reveal a lack of understanding of the broader context, particularly the issue of the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands in Armenia. "Michael O'Flaherty talks about the return of Armenians to Azerbaijan, but ignores the issue of the return of Western Azerbaijanis to their ancestral lands in Armenia," the statement notes.

The community's commentary calls on O'Flaherty not to become a "hostage" to what they describe as a "policy of double standards" that is deeply entrenched in certain Western institutions. This criticism suggests a perceived imbalance in the way human rights are addressed in the context of the region, especially regarding the treatment of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Armenia.

The statement also emphasizes concerns about O'Flaherty’s handling of the trial ongoing in Baku, urging the High Commissioner not to make statements that could encourage impunity. Instead, the Western Azerbaijan Community insists that O'Flaherty should focus on holding Armenian authorities accountable, specifically calling for the prosecution of war criminals residing in Armenia, including those responsible for the Aghdaban tragedy—a significant event marking its 33rd anniversary on April 8.

Furthermore, the commentary urges O'Flaherty to demand answers from Armenia’s first President, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, for his comments regarding the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Armenia. The community also calls for an investigation into the cultural and religious heritage of the Azerbaijani people in Armenia, and an examination of the ethnic hatred against Azerbaijanis within Armenian society.

By Vafa Guliyeva